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3. give the cold shoulder

give the cold shoulder

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give somebody/something the cold shoulder

to show no interest in someone or something Our town council has given the cold shoulder to a proposal to build a public swimming pool. I'd love to know why Bill gave the cold shoulder to Janice.

See also: cold, give, shoulder

give somebody the cold shoulder

to behave towards someone in a way that is not at all friendly, sometimes for reasons that this person does not understand What have I done to him? He gave me the cold shoulder the whole evening at the party.

See also: cold, give, shoulder