Cold shoulder
Meaning
To deliberately ignore someone or treat them in an unfriendly way, often as a sign of displeasure.
Origin
Imagine a scene from 19th-century Britain: a guest has lingered beyond their welcome, perhaps outstaying their hospitality. When it came time for the meal, instead of a warm, choice cut of freshly roasted meat, the host might present a cold shoulder of mutton or a less desirable portion. This subtle but unmistakable gesture of dwindling hospitality served as a clear, non-verbal cue that the guest’s welcome had worn thin, indicating that it was time to depart. This culinary signal of displeasure became the literal foundation for the figurative phrase, evolving into a universally understood idiom for intentional aloofness and rejection.
Examples
- After their argument, she gave him the cold shoulder all evening.
- He felt the cold shoulder from his colleagues after he questioned the new company policy.