Origins and Meaning of “Cold Shoulder”

The expression “giving someone the cold shoulder” means to treat someone with deliberate indifference or to ignore them. This phrase is thought to date back to the early 19th century, possibly in Britain. The exact origin isn’t fully confirmed, but here are the two main theories:

1. Social Snub Theory:
   According to this theory, offering someone a “cold shoulder” referred to serving them a cold shoulder of mutton, or another meat, instead of a warm, freshly cooked meal. This would signify that the guest wasn’t particularly welcome or valued, as it was customary to serve honored guests warm meals. Serving cold meat would have been a subtle sign to suggest it was time for the guest to leave, or that they weren’t considered important.
2. Literal Gesture Theory:
   Another interpretation suggests that “cold shoulder” might refer to the physical act of turning one’s shoulder away from someone, essentially turning one’s back on them. This kind of body language, signaling disinterest or dismissal, became metaphorically extended to mean ignoring or shunning someone.

When the Phrase Gained Popularity

The phrase started to gain traction in the 1800s, and some sources point to the writer Sir Walter Scott, who reportedly used the term in one of his works. Regardless of the exact origin, “cold shoulder” has since evolved to describe situations where someone is intentionally disregarded or snubbed in a social context.