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Silent Treatment

What Does "Silent Treatment" Mean?

homeidiomsSilent Treatment
"Silent treatment" is an English idiom referring to the act of deliberately ignoring or refusing to speak to someone as a form of punishment or protest.

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "silent treatment" used in a sentence:
  • After their argument, he gave her the silent treatment for days.
  • She couldn't stand the silent treatment and tried to mend their relationship.
  • The coworkers exchanged the silent treatment after a disagreement.
meaning for silent treatment

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Silent Treatment" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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