tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063010246424840403.post4164841904211364336..comments2023-10-03T08:36:22.795+01:00Comments on Words, words, words (and phrases): Give someone the cold shoulderScriptor Senexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17795521284516432520noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063010246424840403.post-12332667940684131912013-01-22T13:26:20.082+00:002013-01-22T13:26:20.082+00:00I had to look up that phrase ("gone for a bur...I had to look up that phrase ("gone for a burton")... interesting. I am a student of the 30's and 40's and, especially, the war years and had never seen or heard that phrase before. Thanks for referencing it.Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752593286034877538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063010246424840403.post-13911110199843546382013-01-17T18:38:53.986+00:002013-01-17T18:38:53.986+00:00Quite possible, Douglas. It certainly looks as th...Quite possible, Douglas. It certainly looks as though the shoulder of ham idea has 'gone for a burton'.Scriptor Senexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17795521284516432520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063010246424840403.post-6475414888826566392013-01-17T14:39:44.262+00:002013-01-17T14:39:44.262+00:00Perhaps it is simply metaphoric? That is, we offer...Perhaps it is simply metaphoric? That is, we offer a "shoulder to cry on" to comfort the sad and/or bereaved. That "shoulder" is actually the area between the shoulder and the breast, is it not? And the phrase is metaphorical but re-mindful of those days on our mothers' laps which we sought for succor and comfort... and warmth. Hence, a "cold shoulder" would be a rejection of that motherly, familial, love.Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09752593286034877538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063010246424840403.post-17659740591262390722013-01-16T18:48:04.504+00:002013-01-16T18:48:04.504+00:00The second explanation sounds quite logical, actua...The second explanation sounds quite logical, actually. I wonder what the explanation in German is, since we use almost exactly the same phrase, only that we do not "give" someone the cold shoulder, but we "show" it to them.Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05704656564078750607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5063010246424840403.post-58635573100048218642013-01-16T18:14:52.706+00:002013-01-16T18:14:52.706+00:00In Swedish we say "ge någon kalla handen"...In Swedish we say "ge någon kalla handen" = "give someone the cold hand" ... I don't know the origin of that, but it certainly would not have anything to do with a shoulder of mutton...DawnTreaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04533307672147117843noreply@blogger.com