Etymology Journal ยท G
Give someone the cold shoulder
Meaning
- To intentionally ignore or act unfriendly toward someone. It is a social slight used to signal disapproval or a falling out.
Cool, icy
Used in a sentence
- I think she is mad at me because she has been giving me the cold shoulder all day.
- He gave me the cold shoulder during the meeting for no apparent reason.
- After their argument, she gave him the cold shoulder for a week.
The backstory
The phrase dates back to the 1800s, possibly referring to serving a guest a cold shoulder of mutton, which was a clear sign they were no longer welcome.
Heard in
Nationwide
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