come in from the cold

to become accepted by society I think that country is coming in from the cold - they deal with the outside world a lot more these days. The government wants to see some proof that the rebels want peace before bringing them in from the cold.

if someone comes in from the cold, they become part of a group or an activity which they were not allowed to join before Turkey is now keen to come in from the cold and join the European community. After four years away from the fashion scene, Jasper has come in from the cold with his new 1997 designer collection.

Also, come in out of the cold. Return to shelter and safety, be welcomed into a group. For example, Bill was fed up with traveling on his own for the company and hoped they'd let him come in from the cold , or After years of not being invited to join, Steve was finally asked to come in out of the cold . This phrase, generally used figuratively, gained currency in the 1960s with John LeCarré's best-selling spy novel, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, about a long-time British spy in the cold war who longed to abandon the dirty tricks of his profession. Also see come in out of the rain.