TO GIVE, SHOW, or TURN THE COLD SHOULDER, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To treat a person with studied coldness, neglect, or contempt; to ‘cut,’ in a modified form. The phrase appears to have been first used by Scott in The Antiquary, in the glossary to which it is explained as ‘to appear cold and reserved.’ Jamieson localizes it in the South of Scotland.
1816. SCOTT, The Antiquary, ch. xxxiii. The countess’s dislike didna gang farther at first than just SHOWING O’ THE CAULD SHOUTHER.
1840. DICKENS, The Old Curiosity Shop, ch. lxvi. He GIVES me the COLD SHOULDER on this very matter, as if he had had nothing to do with it, instead of being the first to propose it.
1880. G. R. SIMS, Three Brass Balls, Pledge iii. They were not received everywhere with open arms. He was, of course, but the wife was occasionally COLD-SHOULDERED.
c. 1882. Broadside Ballad, ‘Where’s the Cat?’ She GAVE HIM THE COLD SHOULDER, and quickly told him to depart.
