Idiom meaning, usage examples, facts

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GET/GIVE (SOMEONE) THE COLD SHOULDER

to ignore someone intentionally
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1. Margie and Steve used to be close friends, but now every time they meet, she gives him the cold shoulder.
2. When we bought our new house, we thought everyone would welcome us to the neighborhood. But people give us the cold shoulder when we try to be friendly and neighborly.

Synonym: turn up (one’s) nose at (someone/something). Whereas give someone the cold shoulder is used only with people, turn up one’s nose can be applied to both people and things.


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