How do you use "Give the cold shoulder" in a sentence?

After the argument, she gave me the cold shoulder for a week. I tried to apologize, but he gave me the cold shoulder. The whole group gave her the cold shoulder after she spread that rumor.

Give the cold shoulder

Q: What does "Give the cold shoulder" mean?

To deliberately ignore or be unfriendly toward someone. Used when someone intentionally snubs another person by refusing to speak to them or acknowledge their presence. It's a passive form of social rejection — not openly hostile, but clearly dismissive. Common in social, family, and workplace contexts.

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common informal

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Meaning: To deliberately ignore or be unfriendly toward someone.

故意冷落或对某人不友好。故意无视。

Ignorar deliberadamente a alguien o tratarle con frialdad. Hacerle el vacío.

意図的に無視する、よそよそしい態度をとること。冷たくあしらうこと。

의도적으로 무시하거나 냉대하다. 쌀쌀맞게 대하다.

Used when someone intentionally snubs another person by refusing to speak to them or acknowledge their presence. It's a passive form of social rejection — not openly hostile, but clearly dismissive. Common in social, family, and workplace contexts.

用在某人故意冷落另一个人、拒绝跟对方说话或不理会对方存在的时候。这是一种被动的社交排斥方式——不是公开的敌意，但明显是在无视。在社交、家庭和职场中都很常见。

Se usa cuando alguien desaira intencionadamente a otra persona negándose a hablarle o a reconocer su presencia. Es una forma pasiva de rechazo social: no abiertamente hostil, pero claramente despectiva. Habitual en contextos sociales, familiares y laborales.

話しかけることや存在を認めることを拒否して、意図的に相手を冷遇するときに使う。あからさまに敵対的ではないが、明らかに相手を軽んじている受動的な社会的拒絶の形。人間関係、家族、職場の場面でよく使われる。

누군가 대화를 거부하거나 상대의 존재를 인정하지 않는 방식으로 의도적으로 외면할 때 사용한다. 대놓고 적대적이지는 않지만 분명히 무시하는, 소극적인 사회적 거부의 한 형태이다. 사회적, 가족, 직장 관계에서 흔히 볼 수 있다.

Examples

After the argument, she gave me the cold shoulder for a week.
吵架之后，她整整冷落了我一个星期。
Después de la discusión, me hizo el vacío durante una semana.
口論の後、彼女は一週間ずっと私を無視した。
말다툼 후 그녀는 일주일 내내 나를 무시했다.
I tried to apologize, but he gave me the cold shoulder.
我试着道歉，但他对我不理不睬。
Intenté disculparme, pero me trató con total frialdad.
謝ろうとしたけど、彼に冷たくあしらわれた。
사과하려 했는데 그에게 차갑게 외면당했다.
The whole group gave her the cold shoulder after she spread that rumor.
自从她散布了那个谣言，整个圈子都不搭理她了。
Todo el grupo le hizo el vacío después de que difundiera aquel rumor.
あの噂を広めた後、グループ全員が彼女をシカトした。
그녀가 그 소문을 퍼뜨린 후 그룹 전체가 그녀를 무시했다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, social situations, conflicts

Tone: hurt, describing social rejection

✓ Do Say

She's giving me the cold shoulder.
她在故意冷落我。
Me está haciendo el vacío.
She's giving me the cold shoulder.（彼女に無視されている。）
그녀가 나를 무시하고 있어.
Don't give him the cold shoulder.
别对他不理不睬的。
No le hagas el vacío.
Don't give him the cold shoulder.（彼を冷たくあしらわないで。）
그를 무시하지 마.

✗ Don't Say

Don't confuse it with someone being busy — the cold shoulder is deliberate, not accidental
不要跟对方只是忙混淆——cold shoulder是故意的，不是无心的
No lo confundas con alguien que simplemente está ocupado: hacer el vacío es deliberado, no accidental
相手が忙しくて対応できないこととは混同しないこと——cold shoulderは偶然ではなく意図的なもの
바빠서 반응이 없는 것과 혼동하지 말 것 — cold shoulder는 우연이 아니라 의도적인 것이다

Origin & History

Possibly from medieval hospitality customs. A welcome guest received a hot meal; an unwelcome one received a cold shoulder of mutton — a signal they should leave. Sir Walter Scott used the phrase in 1816, and it became standard in American English.

Cultural Context

Era: 1816-present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal