What Does “Give Someone the Cold Shoulder” Mean and How to Use It in IELTS?

Understanding idiomatic expressions is crucial for mastering English, especially for IELTS. One such expression is “give someone the cold shoulder.” This article will explore its meaning, use in different contexts, and how it can be effectively integrated into your IELTS practice.

What Does “Give Someone the Cold Shoulder” Mean?

“Give someone the cold shoulder” [ɡɪv ˈsʌmwʌn ðə koʊld ˈʃoʊldər] is an idiom that means to deliberately ignore or show indifference to someone as a way of expressing displeasure or rejection. It often implies an act of passive aggression.

Synonyms:

1. Snub [snʌb] (v): To ignore or refuse to acknowledge someone.
   • Example: She intentionally snubbed him at the party.
2. Shun [ʃʌn] (v): To avoid deliberately.
   • Example: He was shunned by his colleagues.
3. Ostracize [ˈɑːstrəˌsaɪz] (v): To exclude someone from a group.
   • Example: She was ostracized because of her opinions.
4. Ignore [ɪɡˈnɔr] (v): To refuse to take notice of or acknowledge.
   • Example: He decided to ignore her calls.
5. Overlook [ˌoʊvərˈlʊk] (v): To fail to notice or consider.
   • Example: She felt overlooked by her friends.

Antonyms:

1. Acknowledge [əkˈnɒlɪdʒ] (v): To recognize or admit the existence or truth of.
   • Example: She always acknowledges her friends at events.
2. Embrace [ɪmˈbreɪs] (v): To hold someone closely in one’s arms; accept or support willingly.
   • Example: They warmly embraced her upon arrival.
3. Welcome [ˈwɛlkəm] (v): To greet someone in a friendly way.
   • Example: He welcomed his guests with a smile.
4. Befriend [bɪˈfrɛnd] (v): To act as a friend to someone by offering help or support.
   • Example: She befriended him when he was new at school.
5. Engage [ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ] (v): To involve oneself or become involved in.
   • Example: She engaged with the audience during her speech.

The Significance of “Give Someone the Cold Shoulder” in IELTS

Definition and Pronunciation

As previously mentioned, “give someone the cold shoulder” means to intentionally ignore someone. Pronunciation plays a crucial role in ensuring the correct delivery of idiomatic expressions in the speaking module of IELTS.

• Phonetic Transcription: [ɡɪv ˈsʌmwʌn ðə koʊld ˈʃoʊldər]
• Breakdown:
  • give [ɡɪv]
  • someone [ˈsʌmwʌn]
  • the [ðə]
  • cold [koʊld]
  • shoulder [ˈʃoʊldər]

Usage in Essay Writing and Speaking

IELTS candidates can impress examiners by incorporating such idiomatic expressions into their answers.

• Writing Task 2 (Essay Example):

  • “Despite multiple attempts to reconcile, the community continued to give him the cold shoulder, reinforcing social divisions.”

• Speaking Task (Example):

  • Examiner: “Describe a situation when you felt ignored.”
  • Candidate: “There was a time when my ideas were not taken seriously at work, and my colleagues gave me the cold shoulder. It was a challenging period.”

How to Incorporate Idioms into IELTS Practice

1. Understand the Context

Knowing when and how to use “give someone the cold shoulder” effectively is essential. It is typically used in social or interpersonal contexts involving feelings of exclusion or rejection.

2. Practice with Examples

Let’s look at a few sentences to see how this idiom can be used in different contexts:

1. Interpersonal Relationships:

   • “After their argument, she decided to give him the cold shoulder at every opportunity.”
   • Analysis: Here, the idiom highlights an interpersonal conflict and a deliberate act of ignoring someone.

2. Workplace Dynamics:

   • “In the office, everyone started to give the new manager the cold shoulder.”
   • Analysis: This example might be used to discuss workplace harmony or lack thereof.

3. Social Scenarios:

   • “When she entered the room, the group gave her the cold shoulder, making her feel unwelcome.”
   • Analysis: This sentence could be relevant in descriptive essays about personal experiences.

3. Combine with Other Vocabulary

Using idioms effectively also means combining them with other advanced vocabulary:

• “The committee’s decision to give him the cold shoulder was perceived as an unjust rebuke [rɪˈbjuk] by many.”
• “Despite efforts to mend fences [mɛnd fɛnsɪz], they continued to give her the cold shoulder.”

4. Related Idiomatic Expressions

To further expand your idiomatic repertoire, here are some additional idioms related to ignoring or excluding someone:

1. Cut someone dead: To ignore someone completely.
   • “He cut her dead after their disagreement at the party.”
2. Freeze out: Exclude someone from participation.
   • “They froze him out of the project discussions.”
3. Turn a blind eye to: Pretend not to notice.
   • “The manager turned a blind eye to the employee’s misconduct.”
4. Give someone the brush-off: Dismiss someone or their ideas.
   • “She felt hurt after he gave her the brush-off during the meeting.”

Example of Giving Cold Shoulder

Conclusion

Incorporating idiomatic expressions like “give someone the cold shoulder” into your English usage can significantly enhance your performance in the IELTS exam. It showcases your grasp of the language’s nuances and enriches your responses, making them more engaging and sophisticated. Keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to explore other idioms that can elevate your language skills even further.