Definition

1. Noun:

   • The part of the body where the arm connects to the torso: The "shoulder" is the joint and area between the neck and the upper arm.
   • A part of a garment covering this body part: The "shoulder" of a shirt or jacket is the section designed to fit over the body's shoulder.
   • A paved or unpaved edge alongside a road: The "shoulder" is the strip of land at the side of a roadway, often used for emergency stops.
   • A cut of meat from the upper foreleg of an animal: A "shoulder" of lamb or pork is a specific cut of meat.

2. Verb:

   • To carry or bear a burden, literally or figuratively: To "shoulder" means to take on a responsibility, duty, or physical weight.
   • To push or force one's way using the shoulders: To "shoulder" means to move through a crowd or obstruction by pushing with the shoulder.
   • To place something onto one's shoulders: To "shoulder" can mean to lift and carry something on the shoulders.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • He felt a pain in his right shoulder.
  • The shoulder of this jacket is too tight.
  • The driver stopped the car on the shoulder to check the tire.
  • We roasted a shoulder of pork for dinner.

• Verb:

  • She had to shoulder the responsibility for the project's failure.
  • He shouldered his backpack and began the hike.
  • The player shouldered his way past the defender to score.

Advanced Usage

• "Shoulder to shoulder": Side by side, in close proximity and unity.
  • The protesters stood shoulder to shoulder.
• "To give someone the cold shoulder": To deliberately ignore someone or treat them with intentional unfriendliness.
  • After their argument, she gave him the cold shoulder for a week.
• "To have broad shoulders": To be able to cope with a lot of responsibility or criticism.
  • As a manager, you need to have broad shoulders.
• "To rub shoulders with someone": To meet or associate with someone, especially of a higher social status.
  • In his job, he rubs shoulders with celebrities.

Variants and Related Words

• Shoulder blade (noun): The flat triangular bone in the back of the shoulder; the scapula.
• Shoulder strap (noun): A strap that goes over the shoulder, as on a bag or piece of clothing.
• Shoulder-length (adjective): Describing hair that reaches down to the shoulders.
  • She has shoulder-length blonde hair.

Synonyms

• Noun (body part): Deltoid (muscle), upper arm joint.
• Verb (to bear): Assume, undertake, accept, bear, carry.
• Verb (to push): Jostle, elbow, shove.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Shoulder aside: To push someone or something aside using the shoulder, often forcefully.
  • He shouldered aside the other competitors to get to the front.
• Shoulder through: To force a passage through a crowd or obstruction by using the shoulders.
  • We had to shoulder through the packed hallway.

Related Idioms

• A chip on one's shoulder: A habitually hostile or defensive attitude, often due to a sense of grievance or inferiority.
  • He's had a chip on his shoulder ever since he didn't get the promotion.
• To look over one's shoulder: To be watchful or suspicious of potential danger or competition.
  • In this competitive industry, you're always looking over your shoulder.
• To put one's shoulder to the wheel: To start working hard at a task.
  • If we all put our shoulders to the wheel, we can finish on time.

Noun

1. a narrow edge of land (usually unpaved) along the side of a road
   • the car pulled off onto the shoulder
2. the part of a garment that covers or fits over the shoulder
   • an ornamental gold braid on the shoulder of his uniform
3. a ball-and-socket joint between the head of the humerus and a cavity of the scapula
4. a cut of meat including the upper joint of the foreleg
5. the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

Verb

1. carry a burden, either real or metaphoric
   • shoulder the burden
2. push with the shoulders
   • He shouldered his way into the crowd
3. lift onto one's shoulders