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What is "cold shoulder"

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
cold shoulder
noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ A declaration of love, or the cold shoulder.
▪ Banishment was better than this cold shoulder.
▪ Rachaela had turned on Ruth, not just the habitual cold shoulder, but with a firework of dislike and alienation.
▪ She was sure that at some point she'd given some one the cold shoulder and hurt them badly without noticing.
▪ So they have given girlfriends the cold shoulder.
▪ Then from then on, we were treated with an absolute cold shoulder, and no one would speak to us.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
cold shoulder

1816, in the figurative sense of "icy reception," first in Sir Walter Scott, probably originally a literal figure, but commonly used with a punning reference to "cold shoulder of mutton," considered a poor man's dish and thus, perhaps, something one would set out for an unwanted guest with deliberate intention to convey displeasure.\n\nHow often have we admired the poor knight, who, to avoid the snares of bribery and dependence, was found making a second dinner from a cold shoulder of mutton, above the most affluent courtier, who had sold himself to others for a splendid pension!

["No Fiction," 1820]

Wiktionary
cold shoulder

n. (context idiomatic English) A deliberate act of disrespect; a slight or snub

WordNet
cold shoulder

n. a refusal to recognize someone you know; "the snub was clearly intentional" [syn: snub, cut]

Wikipedia
Cold Shoulder (Adele song)

"Cold Shoulder" is a song by British singer Adele, released from her debut album 19. It was released digitally in Ireland on 30 March 2008 and in the UK on 31 March 2008. This is the only song on the album to be produced by Mark Ronson. Ex- Jamiroquai bassist Stuart Zender plays on the song who is also part of Mark Ronson's touring band. Adele performed the song on Friday Night with Jools Holland on 8 February 2008 and on Saturday Night Live during the 18 October 2008 show. A remix by Basement Jaxx has also been receiving airplay and is digitally available.

Cold shoulder

"Cold shoulder" is a phrase used to express dismissal or the act of disregarding someone. Its origin is attributed to both 19th-century literary works and as a result of folk etymology.

Cold Shoulder (disambiguation)

cold shoulder is an English expression. Cold Shoulder may also refer to:

Usage examples of "cold shoulder".

Although she still stung from the cold shoulder Mike had given her last night, Kelly was damned if she was going to just toss Mike to the shark-like Eva.

They considered me a conceited young upstart, and gave me the cold shoulder.

But even then, all I'd gotten from her so far was the cold shoulder.

The other court ladies had turned a cold shoulder back before Barholm assumed the Chair.

I do hear say, though, that his own kin still turn the cold shoulder to him.

Her tone had a defensive sting and she turned a cold shoulder to him and spoke to the captain instead.

Casaubon has devilish good reasons, you may be sure, for turning the cold shoulder on a young fellow whose bringing-up he paid for.

She turned a cold shoulder to David and painted on a radiant smile for the island's inhabitants.