“cold shoulder” 固定结构(单数形式),其词源并非指向“寒冷的肩膀”也不是“冰冷的小香肩”,而是源于14世纪英国的饮食文化。当时,主人若想委婉示意不受欢迎的客人离开,会端上一道“冷的羊肩肉(cold shoulder of mutton)”——这是给仆人或地位低下者的简易食物,而非招待贵客的热菜。“冷肩肉”逐渐成为“委婉拒绝、刻意冷落”的象征,最终简化为短语“cold shoulder”,脱离具体食物,成为抽象表达。
其核心语义高度统一:“故意对某人表现出冷淡、疏远或忽视的态度,故意冷落某人,对某人冷眼相待;受到冷遇”,强调“主观刻意为之”,区别于“无意的疏忽”。它本质是一种“非暴力的情感排斥”,与汉语里的“冷暴力”颇有几份相似,语境中常隐含“原本关系尚可,因某种原因突然或持续冷淡”的逻辑,多以“give sb the cold shoulder”“get the cold shoulder”等固定搭配出现。
请结合精选例句反复推敲:
The new student tried to join the group, but the others gave her the cold shoulder because she was too quiet.
这个新生试图融入小组,但其他人因为她太内向而故意冷落她。

——体现“群体对个体的冷落”,考点为“give sb the cold shoulder”的基础搭配。
After the company broke the cooperation agreement, all its former partners gave it the cold shoulder.
这家公司违反合作协议后,所有前合作伙伴都对它采取了冷落态度。
——聚焦“商业关系中的报复性冷落”,核心是“give sth the cold shoulder”(对象为机构)的用法。
The president gave the cold shoulder to the opposition’s proposal, refusing even to discuss it.
总统对反对党的提案采取冷落态度,甚至拒绝讨论。
——突出“权力方对另一方的刻意忽视”,语义重点在“拒绝回应的冷淡”。
He texted her every day, but she gave him the cold shoulder because she wasn’t interested in him.
他每天给她发消息,但她因为对他没兴趣而故意冷落他。

——贴合恋爱初期“一方对另一方示好的冷落”,是“give sb the cold shoulder”的高频日常场景。
After Tom forgot his girlfriend’s birthday, he got the cold shoulder from her for a whole week.
汤姆忘记了女朋友的生日后,整整一周都受到了她的冷遇。
The enemy forces gave the small patrol the cold shoulder, focusing their attack on the main camp instead.
敌军对这支小巡逻队采取冷落态度,转而集中攻击主营地。
——结合军事语境,体现“战略上的刻意忽视”,延伸了短语的“目的性”语义。
They had a fight last night, and today he’s been giving her the cold shoulder—he won’t even look at her.
他们昨晚吵架了,今天他一直冷落她,甚至都不看她一眼。
——核心考点为“持续的冷战式冷落”,强调“因矛盾引发的态度转变”。
The country gave the cold shoulder to the diplomatic delegation, canceling all scheduled meetings.
该国对这个外交代表团采取冷落态度,取消了所有原定会议。
——体现“国家间的外交冷淡”,用法上是“give a group the cold shoulder”(对象为团队)。
After years of neglect, she finally gave her husband the cold shoulder and moved into the guest room.
在多年被忽视后,她最终冷落了丈夫,搬到了客房住。
——关联婚姻中的“反击性冷落”,考查短语在长期关系矛盾中的应用。
She got the cold shoulder from her crush when she admitted her feelings—he avoided her completely.
当她向暗恋对象表白后,对方故意冷落她,完全避开了她。

——此处用“get the cold shoulder”(被动接受冷落),拓展了短语的被动用法,是易考点。
He lied to his best friend about borrowing money, so he’s been getting the cold shoulder ever since.
他向最好的朋友借钱时撒了谎,从那以后就一直被冷落。
——贴合交友场景,突出“因过错导致的朋友间冷落”,体现“get the cold shoulder”的日常用法。
Ross has been giving Rachel the cold shoulder all week because she forgot their anniversary. 《老友记》
罗斯这一周都在冷落瑞秋,因为她忘了他们的纪念日。
——台词用“give sb the cold shoulder”精准对应“因小事引发的恋爱冷战”,是口语中“情侣间冷落”的典型用法,与考试中“恋爱/婚姻场景”的考点高度契合,短语搭配完整且语境生活化。
Mr. Darcy gave Elizabeth the cold shoulder at the ball, which made her even more determined to dislike him. 《傲慢与偏见》
达西先生在舞会上故意冷落伊丽莎白,这让她更加坚定了讨厌他的决心。
——此处“give the cold shoulder”融入19世纪社交场景,体现“贵族间因偏见产生的刻意疏远”,既保留短语“主观故意”的核心语义,又展现了“在正式场合的冷淡态度”,拓展了使用场景。
Blair got the cold shoulder from the entire group after she betrayed Serena—no one wanted to talk to her. 《绯闻女孩》
布莱尔背叛瑟琳娜后,整个圈子都冷落她,没人愿意和她说话。
——用“get the cold shoulder”的被动形式,体现“群体对个体的排斥性冷落”,贴合交友场景中“因过错被孤立”的语境,短语的被动用法和“群体对象”搭配均为考试高频考点。
Lily and Lucy used to be best friends, but after Lily spread rumors about Lucy, Lucy started to give her the cold shoulder. They haven’t talked for a month now.(2023年全国新高考II)
莉莉和露西曾经是最好的朋友,但在莉莉散布关于露西的谣言后,露西开始对她冷眼相待。她们已经一个月没说话了。
When the young singer refused to sign the contract with the record company, the company gave her the cold shoulder—they canceled her upcoming performances and stopped promoting her songs.
当这位年轻歌手拒绝与唱片公司签订合同时,唱片公司对她刻意冷落——他们取消了她即将到来的演出,并停止推广她的歌曲。(2024年江苏卷)
核心考点小结
“cold shoulder”的考查聚焦固定搭配与语义辨析,核心有三:
一是掌握唯一固定搭配——主动态“give sb the cold shoulder”(冷落某人)、被动态“get the cold shoulder”(被冷落),动词“give/get”不可替换为“take/make”等;
二是区分“刻意冷落”与“无意忽视”——短语强调“主观故意”,若语境为“不小心没注意到”,则不能使用;
三是注意形式固定性——“cold shoulder”为单数名词短语,不可写作“cold shoulders”,且无动词用法(不能说“cold shoulder sb”。)