idiom · informal
give someone the cold shoulder
UK/ɡɪv ˈsʌmwʌn ðə kəʊld ˈʃəʊldə/US/ɡɪv ˈsʌmwʌn ðə koʊld ˈʃoʊldər/give some·one the COLD SHOUL·der
to intentionally ignore someone or treat them in an unfriendly way
Examples
“After their argument, she gave him the cold shoulder at the party.”
“If your boss gives you the cold shoulder, try to discuss the issue calmly.”
“He felt hurt when his friends gave him the cold shoulder.”
Band 8 sentence
“When professional disagreements turn personal, it is unprofessional to give a colleague the cold shoulder; direct communication is better.”
Collocations
- give someone the cold shoulder at a meeting
- receive the cold shoulder
Word family
Common mistakes
She gave me cold shoulder.→She gave me the cold shoulder.
She give me the cold shoulder.→She gave me the cold shoulder.
Say it for a higher band
5ignore someone→6snub someone→7+give someone the cold shoulder
Synonyms
snub
Easily confused
ignore
“He simply ignored her calls for a few days.”
Related words
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