give (someone) the time of day, not to/won't

time of day

The hour shown on a clock; also, a stage in any activity or period. For example, What time of day is the repairman coming? or This is hardly the time of day to ask for another installment when he's just turned one in . [Late 1500s] Also see not give someone the time of day. See also: of, time

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.”See also: give, not, of, time