cold shoulder
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
To display aloofness and disdain.
Sources & notes
Imported from Wikipedia “English-language idioms” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29), pending review.
Sense 2
"to show or give any one the COLD SHOULDER" is to "cut" in a modified form, to assume a distant manner towards anybody, to evince a desire to cease acquaintanceship. Sometimes termed "COLD SHOULDER of mutton."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “cold shoulder” mean?
To display aloofness and disdain.
Is “cold shoulder” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.