give cold shoulder
Freeze someone out
To give someone the cold shoulder is to treat them with deliberate coldness or dismissive indifference, snubbing them by withholding the warmth you'd show others: After the argument, she gave him the cold shoulder for weeks.
The phrase suggests turning away—offering only a cold, unyielding shoulder rather than facing someone openly.
- snubDeliberate dismissive rejection
- ignoreRefuse to notice
- shunDeliberately keep away
- rejectDismiss as unsuitable
- dismissSend away or reject
brush off · rebuff · slight · freeze out · frozen out · ostracize · shut out · avoid · icy · distant · aloof · silent treatment · turn away · blank · look right through · cut · disdain · social exclusion
give cold shoulderembrace
Hold closely in arms
roll out the red carpet · befriend · kill with kindness · wine and dine · fete
give cold shoulderacknowledge
Confirm receipt or truth
seek out · include · lend an ear · befriend · dote on
give, gives, giver, givers, cold, colder, coldest, coldly, coldness