give (somebody) the silent treatment
Meaning(s)
1. completely ignore or simply refuse to speak to someone
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
he/she is giving me the silent treatment
Analysis
To give someone the silent treatment means to ignore someone will refuse to speak or communicate with them usually to demonstrate you are annoyed or upset by them. Giving someone the 'silent treatment' is a form of passive-aggressive behaviour and is usually used by people who are in conflict with one another.
Social Examples (Basic)
- I guess Gary still hasn't forgiven me for what I said. He's been giving me the silent treatment all day.
- Giving someone the silent treatment after an argument isn't very productive it is much better to discuss what is bothering you.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- You two need to pull together to get the task done, so you can't afford to give each other the silent treatment. Just be professional and put your personal feelings to one side!
- The new employee has been treated very unfairly by the other members of staff. They are giving her the silent treatment.