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#2 (permalink) Thu Dec 21, 2006 10:47 am Cold shoulder vs. cold hand |
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If you give someone the cold shoulder you signal that you don't want to communicate with them. This usually happens after you had an argument with them.
TOEIC listening, question-response: Do you like the way they reorganized the office? |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 14503 Location: EU
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#3 (permalink) Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:14 am Cold shoulder vs. cold hand |
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Hi Golf
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Origin
The explanation of this that is often found is that welcome visitors were given a hot meal but those less welcome were offered only the cold shoulder (of meat, e.g. mutton). This is repeated in several etymological texts, including Hendrickson's usually reliable, 'Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins'. There's no evidence to support this view though and it appears to be an example of folk etymology. |
By the way, could anybody say whether we should use the hyphened form to cold-shoulder in the case when we want to use it as a verb or to cold shoulder is also OK? _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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#4 (permalink) Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:18 am Cold shoulder vs. cold hand |
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Hi,
You might be interested to know how the expression comes about. If you turn your shoulder around as in turning your back on seeing someone, you are indicating to another person that you don't want to have anything to do with them. In this way you giving them the cold (unfriendly) shoulder.
A _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#5 (permalink) Mon Jun 15, 2009 16:50 pm Cold shoulder vs. cold hand |
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why :shock: SHOULDER :shock: ? can someone tell me the origin of this idiom?
I give somebody the hand... but the shouder?!
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ok ok ok you had explained it yet :D
well I still don't agree completely to the using of this part of the body but no one cares :D |
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Raperonzolo New Member
Joined: 08 Jun 2009 Posts: 6
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#6 (permalink) Mon Jun 15, 2009 17:55 pm Cold shoulder vs. cold hand |
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In German we say 'to show the cold shoulder', which I think hits the nail on the head, and expresses it much better. _________________ No comment |
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Shyone I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 21 Mar 2009 Posts: 466
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#7 (permalink) Mon Jun 15, 2009 18:02 pm Cold shoulder vs. cold hand |
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And in England we say, " Cold hands/feet, warm heart. Funny old world isn't it?.
Kitos. _________________ Keep it simple ... Keep it interesting. |
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Kitosdad Language Coach

Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 13417 Location: ESSEN, Germany, (but English.)
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| Like a cat on hot bricks... | After a person or entity files bankruptcy any new debt incurred is called what? |