1. Ý Nghĩa
Give someone the cold shoulder: cố tình phớt lờ, tỏ thái độ lạnh nhạt, coi thường hoặc đối xử không công bằng với ai đó, đồng thời thể hiện sự xa cách, lạnh lùng, thiếu quan tâm, thường là để đáp lại hành vi xúc phạm, bất đồng hoặc ghét bỏ.
2. Ví dụ/Examples
She gave me the cold shoulder and wouldn’t talk to me for days after our argument.
At the party, when I tried to make contact with him, he walked away and gave me the cold shoulder.
He always gives me the cold shoulder when I bring up the subject, letting me know he doesn’t want to talk about it.
She persisted in giving me the cold shoulder despite my attempts to apologize and signaled that she had no desire to find a solution.
She anticipated a warm greeting, but her coworkers made her feel awkward by giving her the cold shoulder.
Lucy: Hey, Paul. I really need to talk to you about something that’s been bothering me. My girlfriend has been giving me the cold shoulder for nearly a week now, and I’m not sure why.
Paul: I think I might have an idea of why she’s acting that way. I accidentally let slip about your struggles at work when I was chatting with Sydney. She looked confused and walked away without saying goodbye to me, which is not her thing.
Lucy: What? Really? I never mentioned anything about my work troubles. I thought it’d have been good for her. I didn’t want to burden her with my problems. And now I was seriously upsetting her.
Paul: I’m sorry, mate. I didn’t mean to cause you any trouble. I thought she should know, considering how much she cares about you.
Lucy: I think you’re right. Maybe she’s feeling a bit left out or disconnected. Just like I’ve been intentionally shutting her out. I wish she had talked to me instead of keeping her distance.
Paul: It makes sense that she’s feeling hurt or concerned about you. Maybe it’s time for an open conversation where you can explain your reasons and reassure her that you didn’t mean to push her away.
Lucy: Yeah, you’re right. I should’ve been more open with her. I’ll sit down with Sydney and go over what’s happened. Hopefully, she’ll understand.
Paul: Good on you, Lucy. Communication is key in relationships, especially during tough times. If you ever need advice or just someone to talk to, I’m here for you.
Lucy: Thanks, Paul. I value your support, mate. I’ll speak with Sydney about it and work towards rebuilding the trust and connection between us.