give someone the cold shoulder
/ˌɡɪv ˌsʌmwʌn ðə ˌkəʊld ˈʃəʊldə/INFORMAL · C1
Meaning
to ignore someone on purpose and be unfriendly
Examples
- 1After our argument, my best friend gave me the cold shoulder for a week.
- 2Why is Leo giving everyone the cold shoulder today?
- 3Since our argument, Nina has given me the cold shoulder, walking past me without a word.
- 4The other parents gave Sara the cold shoulder at first, but now she's part of the group.
- 5If you give Ben the cold shoulder, he'll think you're still cross with him.
Grammar
give changes form: gave, given. someone is one word, such as me, him or a name. In the passive: get the cold shoulder.
More idioms about the body
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →let your hair downto relax and enjoy yourself much more freely than usualelbow greasehard physical effort, especially when cleaningkeep an eye onto watch or look after someone or somethingturn a blind eyeto ignore something that you know is wronggive someone a handto help someone, especially with a practical jobpull your legto joke with someone by telling them something untrue
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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