COLD SHOULDER Definition & Meaning

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cold shoulder

[ kohld shohl-der ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a show of deliberate indifference or disregard.

adjective

Also ��Ǳ��-��ǳܱ�·��. (of a sleeved garment) having a portion of each sleeve cut out, leaving the shoulders exposed:
cold shoulder tops for everyday wear;
a cold-shoulder dress.

cold-shoulder

[ kohld-shohl-der ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to snub; show indifference to.

cold shoulder

noun

the cold shoulder
a show of indifference; a slight

verb

to treat with indifference

cold shoulder

To “give someone the cold shoulder” is to ignore someone deliberately: “At the party, Carl tried to talk to Suzanne, but she gave him the cold shoulder.”

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of cold shoulder¹

First recorded in 1810–20; cold shoulder def 2 was first recorded in 2010–15

Origin of cold shoulder²

First recorded in 1810–20

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Idioms and Phrases

Deliberate coldness or disregard, a slight or snub. For example, When I said hello to her in the library, she gave me the cold shoulder and walked away . This term, which first appeared in writings by Sir Walter Scott and others, supposedly alludes to the custom of welcoming a desired guest with a meal of roasted meat, but serving only a cold shoulder of beef or lamb—a far inferior dish—to those who outstayed their welcome. [Early 1800s]

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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