Give the cold shoulder

Definitions

• ignore someone
  To intentionally not acknowledge or speak to someone, often as a form of punishment or disapproval

• reject someone
  To intentionally dismiss or reject someone, often in a rude or disrespectful manner

• show indifference
  To intentionally show a lack of interest or concern towards someone or something

Examples of Give the cold shoulder

• Sarah refused to speak to her friend Emily after their argument. She gave Emily the cold shoulder for a week.

  This idiom is used to describe someone who ignores or avoids another person, usually as a form of punishment or disapproval. It's called "the cold shoulder" because it's a metaphorical way of saying that someone is giving another person the "cold treatment," which is as chilly and unfriendly as a shoulder that's been left out in the cold.

• The boss didn't respond to any of John's emails or requests for a meeting. He felt like he was being given the cold shoulder.

  This example shows how the idiom can be used as a verb, "giving the cold shoulder," but it can also be used as a noun, "being given the cold shoulder," to describe the experience of being ignored or avoided.

• After the party, Jane's ex-boyfriend stopped answering her calls and texts. She felt like he was giving her the cold shoulder.

  This example shows how the idiom can be used in a romantic context, as a way of describing someone who has suddenly become distant or unresponsive after a relationship has ended.

• The new employee was assigned to work with a team that had been giving him the cold shoulder. He felt like an outsider and struggled to fit in.

  This example shows how the idiom can be used in a professional context, as a way of describing a situation where someone is being excluded or ignored by a group of people.

• The customer service representative gave the caller the cold shoulder when she complained about the product. She felt like her concerns were being dismissed.

  This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe a situation where someone is being treated rudely or dismissively, as if they don't matter or aren't worth listening to.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the idiom "give the cold shoulder" is used to describe intentionally ignoring, rejecting or showing indifference towards someone. It conveys a sense of coldness and distance in one's behavior towards another person.

This idiom is often used in social situations, such as when someone is upset with another person and wants to punish them by ignoring them. It can also be used to describe someone who is indifferent or uninterested in another person's feelings or needs.

Overall, the phrase "give the cold shoulder" is a common idiom used to express negative feelings towards someone, particularly in a social context.

Origin of "Give the cold shoulder"

The origin of the idiom "give the cold shoulder" is unclear, but there are a few theories as to its origins. One theory suggests that it originated from medieval times when hosts would serve hot food to welcome and show hospitality to their guests. If the host wanted their guests to leave, they would serve cold food, giving them the cold shoulder.

Another theory suggests that the phrase originated from the practice of giving a literal cold shoulder to someone. In earlier times, a cold shoulder of meat was considered a less desirable cut, and it was given to less favored guests. Thus, "giving the cold shoulder" was a way of showing disapproval or indifference towards someone.

Regardless of its exact origins, the idiom has been in use since the 1800s and has become a common phrase in the English language. It is often used in both formal and informal situations to express negative feelings towards someone.