in from the cold

1. Literally, having entered a place in order to warm one's body (because it is cold outside). I know the kids are having fun building snowmen, but they need to come in from the cold before they get frostbite! As soon as I got in from the cold, I enfolded myself in a blanket and sat in front of the fire. After shoveling snow all morning, I was thrilled to finally come in from the cold

2. Having been allowed to join or participate in a group from which one was previously excluded; accepted in a certain social setting. A relatively unknown director for most of her career, she was brought in from the cold after her work with the A-list celebrity garnered the attention of a major Hollywood studio. The striking workers were finally brought in from the cold after the union and corporate leaders settled the wage dispute. After excluding me from their meetings for months, I've finally been brought in from the cold by the rest of the executive team.