Give the cold shoulder
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
To deliberately ignore or snub someone, showing disdain or indifference with a chilly, aloof attitude, as if turning away physically. It suggests rejection-subtle or overt-leaving the recipient frozen out, with a tone of petty spite or calculated distance.
Origin
From 19th-century Britain, possibly tied to hospitality customs. Medieval hosts served hot meat to welcome guests but gave cold shoulder-tough, leftover mutton-to overstaying ones, signaling departure time. Sir Walter Scott's 1816 'Antiquary' uses it figuratively for rebuffing, spreading as slang by the 1840s. It reflects Victorian manners and indirect insult, evolving from literal fare to a social freeze-out rooted in subtle English reserve.
Variants
- Cold shoulder
- Give a cold shoulder
Usage Examples
- She gave him the cold shoulder after their spat.
- He got the cold shoulder from the team for showing up late.
- They gave me the cold shoulder at the party; no one talked to me.
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