Give (Someone) the Time of Day, Not to/Won’t❌
To refuse to pay someone the slightest attention. The analogy here is to refusing to answer even the simple question “What time is it?” The expression dates from the mid-twentieth century. Norman Mailer used it in Advertisements for Myself (1959): “You don’t even give me the time of day. You’re the coldest man I’ve ever known.”
Related Terms & Expressions
- Cold Shoulder❄️: To deliberately ignore someone or treat them coldly.
- Brush Off 🚿: To dismiss someone or something rudely or abruptly.
- Give (Someone) the Cold Stare 👀: To look at someone coldly without any warmth or friendliness.
- Turn a Blind Eye 🕶️: To ignore something deliberately as if not seeing it.
Synonyms
- Ignore
- Snub
- Shun
- Disregard
Antonyms
- Acknowledge
- Greet
- Recognize
- Pay attention to
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “Ignoring people is way easier than deleting them from your Christmas card list.” — Anonymous
- “You know you’re truly powerful when you can make someone feel invisible.” — W.T. Wittywords
Proverbs and Inspirational Thoughts
- “A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected.” — Unknown
- “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” — Simone Weil
Pop Culture References & Literature
- Books:
- Advertisements for Myself by Norman Mailer
- Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (symbolic link)
- Movies:
- Mean Girls (2004) — “You can’t sit with us!”
- The Devil Wears Prada (2006) — Miranda Priestly never gives Andy the time of day.
- Songs:
- “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye – this might as well be an anthem for getting no attention.
- “Hello” by Adele – melancholic but fits the bill of failed communication.
Inspirational Farewell: Remember, every act of acknowledgment, no matter how small, can lift someone’s spirit. Don’t be that person who can’t give someone the time of day. A smile, a nod, or just a look can make all the difference. 🌟
Quizzes
### Which of these phrases means refusing to pay attention to someone?
- [x] Give (someone) the time of day, not to/won’t
- [ ] Dancing on the moon
- [ ] Swimming with fishes
- [ ] Playing with shadows
> **Explanation:** "Give (someone) the time of day, not to/won’t" is a phrase that signifies refusing to pay attention to someone, to the point of not even acknowledging their presence.
### Which term is similar in meaning to "Give someone the cold shoulder"?
- [ ] Waving a flag
- [x] Brush off
- [ ] Throwing a party
- [ ] Blossoming a friendship
> **Explanation:** "Brush off" is a synonym that means to dismiss or ignore someone rudely, much like "give someone the cold shoulder."
### True or False: "Turn a blind eye" is an antonym of "Give (someone) the time of day, not to/won’t."
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "Turn a blind eye" is actually a synonym meaning to deliberately ignore something.
### Which phrase would indicate showing recognition?
- [ ] Ignore
- [ ] Shun
- [ ] Snub
- [x] Acknowledge
> **Explanation:** "Acknowledge" means to recognize or show awareness of someone’s presence, which is the opposite of ignoring or shunning them.
Happy reading, learning, and quizzing! 🎓📘
