shoulder Idiom, Proverb
chip on his shoulder
cold shoulder
give someone the cold shoulder
give you the cold shoulder
head and shoulders
look over your shoulder
on one's shoulders
put your shoulder to the wheel
rub elbows or shoulders with someone
rub elbows/shoulders
rub shoulders with
shoulder the blame
shoulder to shoulder
shoulder to the wheel
straight from the shoulder
come from the shoulders
the cold shoulder
on sb's shoulders
The success of the program rests on your shoulders．此项计划的成功就取决于你了。
put one's shoulder to the wheel
Idiom(s): put one's shoulder to the wheelTheme: EFFORT
to get busy.
• You won't accomplish anything unless you put your shoulder to the wheel.
• I put my shoulder to the wheel and finished the job quickly.
head and shoulders above
Idiom(s): head and shoulders above sb or sthTheme: SUPERIORITY
clearly superior to someone or something. (Often with stand, as in the example. Fixed order.)
• This wine is head and shoulders above that one.
• John stands head and shoulders above Bob.
have broad shoulders
Idiom(s): have broad shouldersTheme: RESPONSIBILITY
to have the ability to take on unpleasant responsibilities; to have the ability to accept criticism or rebuke.
• No need to apologize to me. I can take it. I have broad shoulders.
• Karen may have broad shoulders, but she cant endure endless criticism.
have a good head on one's shoulders
Idiom(s): have a good head on one's shouldersTheme: INTELLIGENCE
to have common sense; to be sensible and intelligent.
• Mary doesn't do well in school, but she's got a good head on her shoulders.
• John has a good head on his shoulders and can be depended on to give good advice.
have a chip on one's shoulder
Idiom(s): have a chip on one's shoulderTheme: ARGUMENT
to be tempting someone to have an argument or a fight.
• Who are you mad at? You always seem to have a chip on your shoulder.
• John has had a chip on his shoulder ever since he got his speeding ticket.
give sb the cold shoulder
Idiom(s): give sb the cold shoulderTheme: REJECTION
to ignore someone; to reject someone.
• She gave me the cold shoulder when I asked her to the party.
• Sally has been giving me the cold shoulder.
get the cold shoulder
Idiom(s): get the cold shoulderTheme: REJECTION
to be ignored; to be rejected. (Informal.)
• If you invite her to a party, you'll just get the cold shoulder.
• I thought that Sally and I were friends, but lately I've been getting the cold shoulder.
carry the weight of the world on one's shoulders
Idiom(s): carry the weight of the world on one's shouldersTheme: BURDEN
to appear to be burdened by all the problems in the whole world.
• Look at Tom. He appears to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
• Cheer up, Tom! You don't need to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.
Chip on your shoulder
If someone has a chip on their shoulder, they are resentful about something and feel that they have been treated badly.Rub shoulders
If you rub shoulders with people, you meet and spend time with them, especially when they are powerful or famous.Weight off your shoulders
If something is a weight off your shoulders, you have relieved yourself of a burden, normally a something that has been troubling you or worrying you.A Chip On Your Shoulder
Being upset for something that happened in the past.chip on one's shoulder|chip|shoulder
n. phr., informal A quarrelsome nature; readiness to be angered. He went through life with a chip on his shoulder. Jim often gets into fights because he goes around with a chip on his shoulder.cold shoulder|cold|shoulder
n., informal Unfriendly treatment of a person, a showing of dislike for a person or of looking down on a person.
Used in the cliches "give the cold shoulder" or "turn a cold shoulder to" or "get the cold shoulder". When Bob asked Mary for a date she gave him the cold shoulder. The membership committee turned a cold shoulder to Jim's request to join the club.cold-shoulder|cold|shoulder
v., informal To act towards a person; with dislike or scorn; be unfriendly to. Fred cold-shouldered his old friend when they passed on the street. It is impolite and unkind to cold-shoulder people.Compare: BRUSH OFF2, HIGH-HAT, LOOK DOWN ONE'S NOSE AT.
good head on one's shoulders|good|head|shoulder|sh
n. phr. Good sense; good judgment. Jack has a good head on his shoulders; he never drives too fast. Alice is a girl with a good head on her shoulders, she always keeps good company. George showed he had a good head on his shoulders by refusing to cheat.have a good head on one's shoulders|good head|have
v. phr. To be smart; intelligent; well educated. Rob is not the handsomest guy in the world but the girls appreciate him because he has a good head on his shoulders.head and shoulders|head|shoulder|shoulders
adv. phr. 1. By the measure of the head and shoulders. The basketball player is head and shoulders taller than the other boys. 2. By far; by a great deal; very much. She is head and shoulders above the rest of the class in singing. See: FAR AND AWAY.on one's shoulders|on|shoulder|shoulders
adv. or adj. phr. In your care; as your responsibility. The success of the program rests on your shoulders. He acts as if he had the cares of the world on his shoulders.put one's shoulder to the wheel|put|shoulder|wheel
v. phr. To make a great effort yourself or with others; try hard; cooperate. The effort to get a new high school succeeded because everyone put his shoulder to the wheel. The company was failing in business until a new manager put his shoulder to the wheel.rub elbows|elbow|elbows|rub|rub shoulders
v. phr. To be in the same place (with others); meet and mix. City people and country people, old and young, rub elbows at the horse show. On a visit to the United Nations Building in New York, you may rub elbows with people from faraway lands.shoulder to cry on|cry|lean|shoulder|shoulder to l
n. phr. A sympathetic person who is willing to listen to one's complaints and troubles. When Ken left her, Donna needed a shoulder to lean on, and Bob was right there to fill the role.shoulder to shoulder|shoulder
adv. phr. 1. One beside the other; together. The three boys were shoulder to shoulder all during the working hours.Compare: SIDE BY SIDE. 2. Each helping the other; in agreement; together.
Often used with "stand". We can win the fight if we all stand shoulder to shoulder. Compare: SEE EYE TO EYE.
square one's shoulders|shoulder|shoulders|square
v. phr. To stand strong and ready to give battle; be brave. Jack squared his shoulders and entered the game. Graduates must square their shoulders and face the world.straight from the shoulder|shoulder|straight
adv. phr., informal In an open and honest way of speaking; without holding back anything because of fear or politeness or respect for someone's feelings; frankly. John asked what he had done wrong. Bob told him straight from the shoulder. The candidate for Congress spoke out against his opponent's dishonesty straight from the shoulder.Antonym: PULL ONE'S PUNCHES.
world on one's back|back|shoulder|shoulders|weight
n. phr. A very heavy load of worry or responsibility; very tired or worried behavior, as if carrying the world; behavior as if you are very important. Don't look as if you had the weight of the world on your shoulders, Henry, just because you have to mow the lawn./ John acts as if he were carrying the world on his back because he has a paper route.broad shoulders, have
broad shoulders, haveBe able to accept considerable responsibility, as in With his broad shoulders, he can easily handle both departments. [Second half of 1300s]
chip on one's shoulder
chip on one's shoulderA belligerent attitude or grievance, as in Mary is easily offended; she always has a chip on her shoulder. This term actually was defined in a newspaper article (Long Island Telegraph, May 20, 1830): “When two churlish boys were determined to fight, a chip would be placed on the shoulder of one and the other demanded to knock it off at his peril.” [Early 1800s]
cry on someone's shoulder
cry on someone's shoulderTell one's problems to someone so as to gain sympathy or consolation, as in When James had a problem at the office he generally cried on his sister's shoulder. It is also put as a shoulder to cry on, as in When Mom came home, Jane had a shoulder to cry on. [Late 1930s]
good head on one's shoulders, have a
good head on one's shoulders, have aBe intelligent or shrewd; have good sense or good judgment. For example, We can depend on George to figure it out—he has a good head on his shoulders. This term originated in the 1500s as have an old head on young shoulders, alluding to the wisdom of age and physical youth. It took its present form in the 1800s.
shoulder
shoulderIn addition to the idiom beginning with shoulder, also see broad shoulders, have; chip on one's shoulder; cold shoulder; cry on someone's shoulder; good head on one's shoulders, have a; head and shoulders above; on one's shoulders; put one's shoulder to the wheel; rub elbows with; shrug one's shoulders; square one's shoulders; straight from the shoulder; on one's shoulders.
shrug one's shoulders
shrug one's shouldersShow indecision or indifference, as in When I asked her if she minded staying home, she just shrugged her shoulders. This redundant idiom—shrug means “to raise and contract the shoulders”—dates from about 1450.
More Idioms/Phrases
An shoulder idiom dictionary is a great resource for writers, students, and anyone looking to expand their vocabulary. It contains a list of words with similar meanings with shoulder, allowing users to choose the best word for their specific context.
Dictionary of similar words, Different wording, Synonyms, Idioms for Idiom, Proverb shoulder
Learn more
Music ♫