1shoul·der 
/ˈʃoʊldɚ/ noun
plural shoul·ders /ˈʃoʊldɚ/ noun 1 [count] : the part of your body where your arm is connected
▪ He rested the baby's head on his shoulder. ▪ He grabbed my shoulder and turned me around. ▪ She carried a backpack on one shoulder. ▪ He has broad shoulders. — often used figuratively ▪ The responsibility for the failure falls squarely on her shoulders. [=she is completely responsible for the failure] — see picture at human; see also cold shoulder 2 a [count] : the part of an animal's body where a front leg is connected
▪ The horse is five feet high at the shoulder.
b : a cut of meat from the shoulder of an animal [count] ▪ a shoulder of lamb [noncount] ▪ We had pork shoulder for dinner. 3 [count] : the part of a piece of clothing that covers your shoulders — usually plural ▪ The jacket is tight in the shoulders. ▪ The blouse has padded shoulders. 4 [count] : a part of something that is near the top and that resembles a person's shoulder in shape — often + of ▪ the shoulder of the hill/bottle 5 [singular] US : the outside edge of a road that is not used for travel
▪ They pulled over to the shoulder to fix the flat tire. —called also (Brit) hard shoulder
▪ He rested the baby's head on his shoulder. ▪ He grabbed my shoulder and turned me around. ▪ She carried a backpack on one shoulder. ▪ He has broad shoulders. — often used figuratively ▪ The responsibility for the failure falls squarely on her shoulders. [=she is completely responsible for the failure] — see picture at human; see also cold shoulder
▪ The horse is five feet high at the shoulder.
b : a cut of meat from the shoulder of an animal [count] ▪ a shoulder of lamb [noncount] ▪ We had pork shoulder for dinner.
▪ They pulled over to the shoulder to fix the flat tire. —called also (Brit) hard shoulder
a good head on your shoulders — see 1head
a shoulder to cry on 1 : a person who gives you sympathy and support
▪ She's always been a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. 2 : sympathy and support
▪ He offered me a shoulder to cry on when my husband left me.
▪ She's always been a sympathetic shoulder to cry on.
▪ He offered me a shoulder to cry on when my husband left me.
have a chip on your shoulder — see 1chip
head and shoulders above — see 1head
look over your shoulder
: to worry or think about the possibility that something bad might happen, that someone will try to harm you, etc.
▪ You can never feel confident in this business. You always have to be looking over your shoulder.
▪ You can never feel confident in this business. You always have to be looking over your shoulder.
rub shoulders with — see 1rub
shoulder to shoulder 1 : physically close together
▪ Everyone was standing/squeezed shoulder to shoulder on the crowded bus. 2 : united together to achieve a shared goal
▪ I stand shoulder to shoulder with the other legislators in this effort.
▪ Everyone was standing/squeezed shoulder to shoulder on the crowded bus.
▪ I stand shoulder to shoulder with the other legislators in this effort.
