give a cold shoulder; respond half-heartedly
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to give the cold shoulder; to be indifferent or lukewarm
neutralDescribes a person's attitude of being half-hearted, dismissive, or deliberately neglectful towards someone else, making the other person feel slighted. Often used in personal interactions.
Wǒ我
wèn问
le了
tā她
hǎo好
jǐ几
cì次
，
tā她
zǒng总
shì是
dài待
lǐ理
bù不
lǐ理
de的
。
I asked her several times, but she always gave me the cold shoulder.
Tā他
duì对
xīn新
tóng同
shì事
de的
tài态
dù度
zǒng总
shì是
dài待
lǐ理
bù不
lǐ理
，
ràng让
rén人
jué觉
de得
hěn很
bù不
yǒu友
hǎo好
。
His attitude towards the new colleague is always lukewarm, making people feel very unwelcome.
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Bié别
nà那
me么
dài待
lǐ理
bù不
lǐ理
de的
，
yǒu有
huà话
hǎo好
hǎo好
shuō说
。
Don't be so dismissive; let's talk properly.