broad shoulders
the ability to take criticism, or accept responsibility.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“She has broad shoulders and never takes complaints personally.”
“As a manager, you need broad shoulders because people will blame you when things go wrong.”
“The mayor, whose broad shoulders had carried the weight of the scandal without complaint, finally addressed the crowd to accept full responsibility.”
- 01
broad and shallow
Associated with the Broad Church; latitudinarian.
- 02
broad brush
A style or approach that deals with something in very general, sweeping terms, without attention to fine details or subtle nuances.
- 03
broad in the beam
Wide across the hips, with large buttocks.
- 04
broad strokes
Major features or key points; outline.
- 05
chip on one's shoulder
A habitually combative attitude, usually because of a harbored grievance, a sense of inferiority, or a desire to prove something.
- 06
cold shoulder
A deliberate act of disrespect; a slight or snub.
- 07
dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants
One who discovers by building on previous discoveries.
- 08
give someone the cold shoulder
To snub, resist or reject somebody; to regard somebody distantly.
Last updated August 10, 2026