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Glite Dictionary
to give the time of day

to give the time of day

5 8.1
Show no attention or respect to someone
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : prestar atención
  • He won't give me the time of day.
  • never give the time of day
  • even give the time of day

That's that's the truth, you know, so they'll, if they're polite, they'll give you the time of day.

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Examples

  • We care about what they think, how they, you know, perceive our appearance, whether they smile at us, whether they frown, whether they give us the time of day or don't.

  • Despite my attempts to engage him in conversation, he never gave the time of day.

  • Anyone with common sense would know a security agent would not give you the time of day.

    Blog text (25)

  • We shouldn't even be giving that the time of day.

    Blog text (8)

  • The Rhinos were not giving anyone the time of day.

    Blog text (8)

  • She likes that boy next door, and she's the only one who gives him the time of day.

    Blog text (8)

  • I'm meant to be out there, trying to hit on girls I think are beneath me but who, for their part, won't give me the time of day!

    The Inbetweeners Movie (2011)

  • Fill your time from dusk till dawn with gigs, meetings, panels, etc., but be prepared to drop nearly everything if something important comes up, i.e., you land a meeting with someone who you didn't expect would give you the time of day.

    Blog text (25)

  • When I asked for help, he completely ignored me and wouldn't give the time of day.

  • She felt invisible, as if no one would give her the time of day.

Synonyms

to give a flying shit
vsto give the time of day
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To say in rude language that someone does not care at all

is milder and more polite in tone while showing minimal respect
to give a hang
vsto give the time of day
  • Archaic
9.3

To not care at all about something, used only in negative sentences

is a neutral idiom used negatively to show disregard

Antonyms

to acknowledge
72 3.5

To say thank you for help or support

How Attentive

to listen
∞ 1.0
to speak to
∞ 1.7
to give the time of day
  • Informal
5 8.1
to ignore
∞ 1.0
to snub
7 6.3

Surface Forms

give the time of day infinitive
gave the time of day past
given the time of day past participle
giving the time of day present participle
gives the time of day third person singular

Morphology

give + the + time + of + day

The idiomatic meaning 'to pay someone any attention' is not directly derivable from the literal constituents 'give' + 'time' + 'day' (a literal reading would suggest telling the current time). Because the sense of providing acknowledgment is language-specific and unpredictable from the parts, a B1 learner who only knows the words would likely not infer the intended meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Give the time of day comes from the small action of stopping to tell someone the time or give a quick greeting. To give someone even the time of day was the smallest sign of notice, so refusing it means you 'pay no attention' and show no respect.