not give (one) the time of day

not give (one) the time of day

To completely ignore, disregard, or be unfriendly toward one. My colleagues wouldn't give me the time of day after they found out that my father had influenced the company's decision to hire me. Once he found such huge success, Tom won't give any of his old friends the time of day. That guy didn't give me the time of day back in high school, and now he won't stop calling me.See also: give, not, of, time

not give anyone the time of day

Fig. to ignore someone (usually out of dislike). Mary won't speak to Sally. She won't give her the time of day. I couldn't get an appointment with Mr. Smith. He wouldn't even give me the time of day.See also: anyone, give, not, of, time

not give someone the time of day

Ignore someone, refuse to pay the slightest attention to someone, as in He's tried to be friendly but she won't give him the time of day. This expression, first recorded in 1864, alludes to refusing even to answer the question, "What time is it?" See also: give, not, of, someone, time

give someone the time of day

If you give someone the time of day, you chat to them briefly. He was a lovely man. He'd always stop and give you the time of day. Her father and her brothers were always too busy to bother about her and would hardly give her the time of day.See also: give, of, someone, time

would not give someone the time of day

If you would not give someone the time of day, you do not want to have anything to do with them. Her father and her brothers were always too busy to bother about her and would hardly give her the time of day. Note: This expression is often varied. Rita never gave him so much as the time of day any more.See also: give, not, of, someone, time

give someone the time of day

be pleasantly polite or friendly to someone. 1999 Salman Rushdie The Ground Beneath Her Feet You can greet her courteously but she won't give you the time of day, you can speak to her nice as pie but she won't act polite. See also: give, of, someone, time

not give somebody the ˌtime of ˈday

refuse to speak to somebody because you do not like or respect them: Since the success of her novel, people shake her hand who once wouldn’t have given her the time of day.See also: give, not, of, somebody, time