in cold blood

English

Etymology

From a specialized meaning of cold, referring to lack of empathy.

Pronunciation

  • (file)

Prepositional phrase

in cold blood

  1. (idiomatic) In a ruthless and unfeeling manner, particularly as applied to first-degree murder committed without provocation and with malice aforethought.
    It was not a suicide! He was murdered in cold blood.
    • 2020 January 22, “Suspect in Lop Buri gold robbery-murders arrested”, in Bangkok Post, Bangkok: Bangkok Post Public Company Limited, retrieved 2020-01-22:
      Police have arrested a suspect in the murder-robbery of a gold shop in Lop Buri two weeks ago, in which a young child and two adults were killed in cold blood.

Translations

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