To be denied entry or given a cold reception when visiting someone; to be shut out.
他去拜访朋友，没想到朋友不在家，只好吃了闭门羹
He went to visit his friend, but unexpectedly, the friend was not home, so he was denied entry.
Era:
Modern
Frequency:
Story:
In ancient Xuancheng, there was a courtesan named Shi Feng who was famously beautiful, charming, and skilled in singing and dancing. Many dissolute young masters and pleasure-seekers flocked to her establishment, often crowding it to its capacity.
Shi Feng would categorize her visitors by their status. For high-ranking guests, she would descend to greet them and personally offer them soup ( ). However, for those of lower status, she was unwilling to meet them. She would close her door, effectively making them 'eat closed-door soup,' which meant they were denied entry and coldly received.
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