IdiomNature
Spanish
Spanishley del hielo
Meaning: A state of deliberate coldness or refusal to speak to someone as a form of punishment or rejection.
Literally: Law of ice
Example: “Desde la discusión me aplica la ley del hielo.” — Since the argument, she's been giving me the cold shoulder.
English equivalent: To give someone the cold shoulder
Equivalents in other languages
French: Faire la soupe à la grimace Literally: To make grimace soup
English: give someone the cold shoulder
Dutch: met de nek aankijken Literally: To look at with the neck
Origin: Ice is the natural image of coldness: someone who applies la ley del hielo (the law of ice) to another freezes them out by refusing to speak to them. Calling it a "law" makes the silent treatment sound like a rule of the game. Its first use is not documented.
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