shoulder
shoulder — noun
1. each of the two joints on either side of your neck that connect your arm to the
each of the two joints on either side of your neck that connect your arm to the main part of your body.
Yara gently touched Daichi's shoulder to get her attention.
The doctor asked Christopher to roll his left shoulder forward during the exam.
collocation: roll / rotate one's shoulder
Quinn carries her heavy backpack on both shoulders so the weight is even.
After the volleyball match, Heloísa felt a sharp pain in her right shoulder.
- broad shoulders
- right / left shoulder
- shoulder injury
- shrug one's shoulders
- dislocated shoulder
Common Mistakes
2. the part of your back that sits below your neck and lies between your two should
the part of your back that sits below your neck and lies between your two shoulder blades.
Femi looked back over his shoulder to check if anyone was following.
phrase: look over one's shoulder
A young mother carried the sleeping child high on her shoulder.
The rain soaked through the shoulders of Andrew's cotton shirt.
Daichi draped a towel over his bare shoulders after swimming.
- over one's shoulder
Usage Note
Often used with 'over one's shoulder' to describe looking backward. The plural form 'shoulders' is more common in this sense than the singular.
3. the section on any garment designed to sit on or lie across your shoulder area.
the section on any garment designed to sit on or lie across your shoulder area.
The jacket has padded shoulders that give it a more formal shape.
collocation: padded shoulders
Nikhil grabbed the shoulders of Élise's coat to help him stand up.
These shirt shoulders are cut too narrow for someone with a broad frame.
The tailor adjusted the shoulder seam so the dress would fit perfectly.
- shoulder seam
- shoulder pad
- padded shoulders
Usage Note
Often used in tailoring contexts. 'Shoulder seam' and 'shoulder pad' are common compound terms.
4. the curved area on a bottle or similar container where the narrow neck widens in
the curved area on a bottle or similar container where the narrow neck widens into the main body.
A wine bottle should be filled up to the shoulders for proper storage.
collocation: bottle shoulder / up to the shoulders
The glass bottle has a narrow neck that widens into rounded shoulders.
Paloma gripped the bottle by its shoulders to pour the olive oil steadily.
The chemist designed the flask with gently sloping shoulders for easier pouring.
- bottle shoulder
- wine bottle shoulder
Usage Note
A specialised term used mostly in manufacturing, packaging, or wine storage contexts. Learners are more likely to encounter this in product descriptions than in conversation.
5. the burden of responsibility, blame, or duty that someone carries — used in phra
the burden of responsibility, blame, or duty that someone carries — used in phrases such as 'on someone's shoulders'.
The success of the school project rests on the shoulders of just two students.
phrase: rest on sb's shoulders
After the scandal, the manager took the blame on his own shoulders.
The financial burden of the wedding fell on the shoulders of Ari's parents.
Too much pressure has been placed on the shoulders of young athletes.
- on sb's shoulders
- rest on sb's shoulders
- fall on sb's shoulders
- weight on one's shoulders
Usage Note
Almost always used in fixed prepositional phrases ('on someone's shoulders', 'upon someone's shoulders'). The singular 'shoulder' is rare in this sense — the plural 'shoulders' is the standard form.
Common Mistakes
6. meat taken from the top portion of the foreleg of an animal, usually prepared as
meat taken from the top portion of the foreleg of an animal, usually prepared as a roast or cooked slowly.
We slow-roasted a lamb shoulder for the holiday dinner with herbs and garlic.
collocation: lamb shoulder / pork shoulder / beef shoulder
Pork shoulder is ideal for pulled pork because the meat becomes very tender.
The butcher wrapped the beef shoulder in brown paper and tied it with string.
Andrew seasoned the chicken shoulder pieces with salt and pepper before cooking.
- lamb shoulder
- pork shoulder
- shoulder roast
- shoulder of pork
Usage Note
Commonly paired with animal names: 'lamb shoulder', 'pork shoulder', 'beef shoulder'. Often sold as a roast and associated with slow-cooking methods.
7. the strip beside the traffic lanes on a highway, available for drivers who must
the strip beside the traffic lanes on a highway, available for drivers who must pull off suddenly when something goes wrong.
When the engine started smoking, Daichi pulled over onto the shoulder safely.
phrase: pull over onto the shoulder
Élise parked on the hard shoulder and turned on her hazard lights.
collocation: hard shoulder
Drivers should never stop on the shoulder unless it is an emergency.
The bicycle lane runs next to the shoulder of the highway for a few miles.
- hard shoulder
- soft shoulder
- pull onto the shoulder
- road shoulder
Usage Note
In British English, 'hard shoulder' specifically refers to a paved emergency lane on a motorway. In American English, 'shoulder' is more general and may be unpaved.
cold shoulder
idiombehaviour that is deliberately unfriendly or rude towards someone, as if ignoring them on purpose.
After their argument, Quinn gave Nikhil the cold shoulder for the rest of the week.
The new intern felt hurt when the senior staff turned a cold shoulder to her suggestions.
an angry or bitter attitude caused by believing that you have been treated unfairly in the past.
Femi still has a chip on his shoulder about not getting the promotion last year.
Priya still carries a chip on her shoulder because of how the coach treated her during tryouts.
a shoulder to cry on
idioma person who listens to your problems and gives you sympathy and emotional support.
When Heloísa's cat died, her sister Yara was a shoulder to cry on.
Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on when life gets difficult.
shoulder to shoulder
idiomphysically very close together, or working together as a united group towards a shared goal.
The passengers stood shoulder to shoulder on the crowded morning train.
The nurses worked shoulder to shoulder with the doctors during the emergency.
to feel worried or anxious that something bad might happen to you, especially that someone might be trying to harm you.
After the burglary, Andrew kept looking over his shoulder whenever he came home at night.
The witness has been looking over her shoulder ever since she gave her statement to the police.
to start working very hard and with a lot of effort at a difficult task.
If we all put our shoulders to the wheel, we can finish the roof before the rain comes.
The team put their shoulders to the wheel and completed the project two days early.
rub shoulders with
idiomto meet and spend time with someone, especially someone famous or important, in a social or professional setting.
At the film festival, Quinn got to rub shoulders with several well-known directors.
In her job as a journalist, Paloma often rubs shoulders with politicians and diplomats.
in a very direct, honest, and frank manner, even if what is said is critical or unpleasant.
The manager told him straight from the shoulder that his work was not good enough.
I appreciate it when a friend speaks straight from the shoulder instead of hiding the truth.
To be clearly much better than someone or something else.
Maya's essay stood head and shoulders above the others in class.
In terms of skill, Diego is head and shoulders above his teammates.
To feel worried that something bad might happen to you.
After the threat, Brian was looking over his shoulder all week.
Why are you always looking over your shoulder? No one is following you.
To deliberately ignore or be unfriendly to someone.
Sara gave me the cold shoulder after our argument last week.
Why did you give your cousin the cold shoulder at the party?
To feel angry and offended because of something unfair that happened to you in the past.
Min has a chip on his shoulder about not getting the promotion.
She still has a chip on her shoulder from being teased as a child.
To be a sensible and intelligent person.
Aiden has a good head on his shoulders and makes wise decisions.
Despite her youth, Maya has a good head on her shoulders.
Used to describe a young person who behaves in a wise and mature way.
At just twelve, she has an old head on young shoulders.
Diego is only fifteen but has an old head on young shoulders.
If responsibility or blame is on someone's shoulders, they must accept it.
The success of the project rests on your shoulders.
The blame for the accident fell on the driver's shoulders.
To meet and spend time with famous or important people.
At the film festival, she rubbed shoulders with famous actors.
Brian rubbed shoulders with several politicians at the charity event.
Standing very close together, often in a line or group.
The fans stood shoulder to shoulder in the crowded stadium.
Soldiers marched shoulder to shoulder down the main street.
shoulder — verb
1. to accept or take on a difficult duty, blame, or responsibility, often one that
to accept or take on a difficult duty, blame, or responsibility, often one that is heavy or unwanted.
As team leader, Heloísa shouldered the blame for the project's failure without complaint.
collocation: shoulder the blame
Andrew shoulders the responsibility of caring for his elderly mother and two young children.
collocation: shoulder the responsibility
The company agreed to shoulder the full cost of the environmental cleanup.
collocation: shoulder the cost
No single parent should have to shoulder such a heavy financial burden alone.
- shoulder the blame
- shoulder the responsibility
- shoulder the cost
- shoulder the burden
Grammar Patterns
shoulder + noun (responsibility / blame / cost / burden)
Usage Note
This is the most common verb sense of 'shoulder'. It is formal and figurative — you do not literally lift anything. Typical objects are 'blame', 'responsibility', 'cost', 'burden', 'duty'.
Common Mistakes
2. to lift and carry something by placing it on one or both of your shoulders.
to lift and carry something by placing it on one or both of your shoulders.
Quinn shouldered his duffel bag and walked across the platform to catch the train.
collocation: shoulder a bag / backpack / load
The farmer shouldered a heavy sack of rice and carried it to the waiting truck.
Yara shouldered her camera bag before hiking up the steep mountain trail.
A porter at the station shouldered their suitcases and led them to the taxi stand.
- shoulder a bag
- shoulder a load
- shoulder a backpack
Grammar Patterns
shoulder + noun (bag / pack / load)
Usage Note
Literal, physical sense — unlike sense 1. Common with luggage, bags, tools, or food sacks. The object is typically something with a strap or a shape that can balance on the shoulder.
3. to push something or someone using your shoulder, especially to force a way thro
to push something or someone using your shoulder, especially to force a way through a crowd or past an obstacle.
Femi shouldered his way through the crowded market to reach the exit.
pattern: shoulder one's way through
Ari shouldered the heavy wooden door open and stepped into the dark room.
Eli shouldered past the other passengers, trying not to miss his connecting flight.
Christopher shouldered the crate aside so that the delivery truck could get through.
- shoulder one's way
- shoulder past
- shoulder through
- shoulder aside
Grammar Patterns
shoulder + reflexive / way / past / through
shoulder + door / person / object
Usage Note
Often used with a reflexive or directional expression ('shoulder one's way through', 'shoulder past', 'shoulder aside'). The object can be a person, a door, or an obstacle.
shoulder aside
phrasal verbto push someone out of your way using your shoulder, often in a forceful or rude manner.
A man in a suit shouldered aside an elderly woman to get on the bus first.
The reporter shouldered aside a bystander and ran toward the politician.
shoulder through
phrasal verbto move forward through a crowd or tight space by pushing with your shoulders.
The paramedics shouldered through the crowd to reach the injured man.
Nikhil shouldered through the narrow doorway carrying a large box.
Word family
- shoulderedadjectiveB2
- shoulderingnounC1
- broad-shoulderedadjectiveB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
'Shoulder', 'bear', 'take on', and 'assume' all mean accepting responsibility, but they differ in register and nuance. 'Shoulder' is the most vivid metaphor — it suggests a heavy physical load carried with effort (e.g., 'shoulder the blame for a failed project'). 'Bear' is slightly broader and can refer to emotional weight as well as duty ('bear the burden of grief'). 'Take on' is the most conversational and neutral, used freely in everyday English ('take on a new role'). 'Assume' is the most formal, typically found in official or legal contexts ('assume command of the unit'). For learners, 'take on' is safest in conversation; 'shoulder' adds a dramatic, responsible tone; 'assume' suits formal writing.
Common collocations
Etymology
'Shoulder' comes from Old English 'sculdor', which meant the joint connecting the arm to the body. It traces back through West Germanic 'skuldra-' and ultimately to an Indo-European root meaning 'to support' or 'to hold up'. The figurative sense of carrying a burden or responsibility developed in the 1500s, and by the 1800s it was also used as a verb meaning 'to push with the shoulder'.