Wednesday 16 May 2007

Phrase of the Day 82: 'cold shoulder'

"to give someone the cold shoulder"


definition:
to give someone an unfriendly welcome.


example:
"I asked my friends to loan me money, but my idea was met with the cold shoulder".

origin:
In England, a welcome or important visitor would be served a delicious hot meal. A guest "who had outstayed his welcome, or an ordinary traveller" would get a cold shoulder of mutton.

Alternative: The shoulder of beef is a less desirable cut. Serving a cold piece of beef shoulder to your guests is a message that they are not welcome in your home.

1 comment:

Stanners said...

Just to clarify the meaning of this phrase for any learners out there. Here we go:

´After failing to score AGAIN, the rest of the team gave Matt the cold shoulder.´