Definition
闭门羹 is a set phrase that literally means 'door-closing soup.' It describes the situation of being refused entry or reception when visiting someone — in everyday Chinese, you 'eat a 闭门羹' (吃闭门羹), meaning you go to see someone and they won't let you in or they turn you away coldly. The 'soup' is a metaphor; no actual soup is involved.
idiom
cold-shoulder treatmentrefusal of entry or reception
Examples
- ，闭门羹。Tā qù zhǎo lǎobǎn jiè qián, jiéguǒ chī le bì mén gēng.He went to the boss to borrow money, but ended up being turned away.
- ，闭门羹。Dì yī cì qù nǚpéngyou jiā, tā dānxīn huì chī bì mén gēng.The first time he visited his girlfriend's home, he worried he might be given the cold shoulder.
- ，闭门羹。Zhè jiā gōngsī ménjìn hěn yán, tuīxiāoyuán jīngcháng chī bì mén gēng.This company has strict security; salespeople often get refused entry.
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