give sb the cold shoulder

The phrase give sb the cold shoulder is often used in English, but what does this idiom mean? When idioms are used in the right situations, they strengthen communication and enrich the language. You can communicate more effectively by learning the meaning of give sb the cold shoulder.

Meaning of "give sb the cold shoulder"

Meaning

The idiom ‘give someone the cold shoulder’ is used when you want to show someone that you do not want to talk to them or even be around them. It refers to deliberately ignoring someone and not being friendly or warm towards them. It often used metaphorically, to describe how someone might be treating another person without saying anything directly.

Etymology

The origin of the phrase ‘give someone the cold shoulder’ is attributed to the British author Sir Walter Scott in 1816. The phrase appears in his book, The Antiquary, in which he writes “They gave him the cold shoulder at first, but he soon grew into favor.” The phrase ‘cold shoulder’ was originally used as a way to describe a literal cold shoulder or lack of welcome or hospitality which was served to a dining guest. It has since been adapted to be used metaphorically to describe a lack of welcome or hospitality in other aspects of life.

Usage

The phrase ‘give someone the cold shoulder’ is often used in casual conversation to talk about someone who is deliberately being ignored or excluded. It can be used to describe a person who is deliberately avoiding someone else, or to describe a situation where a person is not being welcomed or accepted.

Example Sentences

• She gave me the cold shoulder when I tried to talk to her at the party.
• My boss has been giving me the cold shoulder lately, I think she's angry with me.
• I'm not sure why my friend gave me the cold shoulder when I asked her to hang out.
• John got the cold shoulder from his co-workers when he returned from vacation.

The power of idioms transcends languages!

"Putting the cart before the horse" is an English idiom that means doing things in the wrong order. In Russian, the similar idiom is "Кладёт колесо впереди лошади," which translates to "Putting the cart before the horse." This idiom emphasizes the idea that doing things in the wrong order can lead to confusion and problems down the line.