the cold shoulder

cold shoulder

1. noun A display or appearance of disinterest; a snub. This phrase usually refers to the act of ignoring someone. It originated with the 19th-century practice of serving of a cold shoulder of meat to tiresome guests. She thinks you started that rumor about her—that's why she's been giving you the cold shoulder all day.
2. adjective Describing a type of women's shirt that has sleeves but leaves the shoulders exposed. In this usage, the phrase is typically hyphenated. I think I'm too old to be wearing a cold shoulder top like that!
See also: cold, shoulder
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the cold shoulder

a show of intentional unfriendliness; rejection.
The verb cold-shoulder , meaning ‘reject or be deliberately unfriendly’, comes from this phrase.
See also: cold, shoulder
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • cold shoulder
  • cold-shoulder
  • here's a dime, call someone who cares
  • ghost
  • ghost someone
  • be (not) the marrying kind
  • bummer
  • angle
  • angling
  • wear (one's) apron high
References in classic literature
Supposing I'm ready to fling my cap over the mill, other starchy people will give you the cold shoulder until you're married.
"Ay, he comes back," said the landlord, "to his great friends, now and again, and gives the cold shoulder to the man that made him."
He had an uneasy feeling that Lawson, after helping him, would turn the cold shoulder on him.
Casaubon has devilish good reasons, you may be sure, for turning the cold shoulder on a young fellow whose bringing-up he paid for.
Those who knew the story gave him the cold shoulder; those who knew it not, seeing one brother disappear, and the other succeed in the estate, raised a cry of murder; so that upon all sides he found himself evited.
He gives me the cold shoulder on this very matter as if he had had nothing to do with it, instead of being the first to propose it.
All understood the art of speaking fair when a point was to be gained, and could with consummate skill and at a moment's notice turn the cold shoulder the instant civility ceased to be profitable.
The Hole, albeit in a general way not over nice in its choice of company, was rather shy in reference to the honour of cultivating the Rogue's acquaintance; more frequently giving him the cold shoulder than the warm hand, and seldom or never drinking with him unless at his own expense.
"They will give you the cold shoulder. Do you know what that means?"
Winterbourne wondered how she felt about all the cold shoulders that were turned toward her, and sometimes it annoyed him to suspect that she did not feel at all.
You are now strong when once you were weak Perhaps you feel less threatened in old age As our enemies are now less likely to rampage Confidence comes as we get older And seldom now do we get the cold shoulder We don't always speak our mind But it's good to speak as we find From experience we learn to speak with respect Listeners will appreciate it I do suspect Speak to others as you would like to be spoken to Hopefully this will resolve any issue Keep calm and never raise ones voice Remember one always has a choice GEORGE McLANDERS
Give it the cold shoulder Hit up your NYE party in this navy velvet dress and you'll be the talk of the celebration for all the right reasons.
The cold shoulder trend is hot at the moment: Kendall Jenner wore a striped off shoulder dress at the Fendi show, Alexa Chung wore a number of off shoulder ensembles at fashion week, and even the Duchess of Cambridge wore a white Barbara Casasola dress.
COLD callers are to get the cold shoulder in Golcar.
When Eileen comes home from hospital she receives a warm welcome from Jim, Colin and DJ, but Sioned gives her the cold shoulder, much to Eileen's disappointment.