- Meaning
- This idiom describes deliberately ignoring or treating someone with aloofness or disdain, as if turning a cold shoulder to them. It conveys rejection or hostility, often used in personal or social contexts to depict snubbing or exclusion. The phrase carries a tone of hurt, critique, or social maneuvering, reflecting cultural values of courtesy and the human tendency to shun. Its imagery of a turned shoulder evokes a physical rebuff, resonating in scenarios like social slights or grudges. The idiom highlights social dynamics, making it a vivid metaphor for deliberate neglect.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in 19th-century Britain, tied to the practice of serving unwelcome guests cold shoulder meat instead of hot fare, as noted in Walter Scott’s *The Antiquary* (1816). Its metaphorical use gained traction in the 1820s, with *The Times* using it for social snubs. The idiom spread through Victorian literature, notably in Charlotte Brontë’s *Jane Eyre* (1847). Its adoption across English-speaking cultures stems from its evocative imagery and relevance to social interactions, especially in the U.K. and U.S.
- Variants
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- Give the cold shoulder
- Cold-shouldering
- Turn a cold shoulder
- Examples
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- She gave him the cold shoulder after their argument.
- Cold-shouldering her, they ignored her at the party.
- Turn a cold shoulder, he did, refusing to speak.
- Giving the cold shoulder, she walked past her rival.
- He got the cold shoulder from the team for his mistake.
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