“When the cannibal came late for dinner, they gave him the cold shoulder”

“Cold shoulder” originally meant cold cuts of meat—not literally a person’s shoulder—but there’s a popular cannibal joke:
   
“What did the cannibal get when he was late for dinner? The cold shoulder.”
 
The joke has been cited in print since at least 1992.
 
     
Wikipedia: Cold shoulder
“Cold shoulder” is a phrase used to express dismissal or the act of disregarding someone. Its origin is attributed to both 19th-century literary works and as a result of folk etymology.
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Another explanation is that the phrase stems from a particular way to serve food to an unwanted guest. In this case, “cold shoulder” refers to serving of an inferior cut of meat, namely a “cold shoulder of mutton” to an uninvited guest, as opposed to serving a hot meal or roast that was fresh out of the oven to an invitee, which was customary at the time. This acted as both a direct and subtle means to let the guest know that he or she was or had become unwelcome, and had extended his or her stay.
 
Google Groups: rec.humor
Can we knock off the country bashing, this is REC.HUMOR!
David Green
5/8/92
Cannibal jokes!
The cannibal was late coming home for dinner, so his wife gave him the cold shoulder.
   
Google Groups: rec.humor
Clean Joke Collection (7/31/92)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
7/31/92
Did you hear about the cannibal who was late for supper?
He was given the cold shoulder.
 
Google Groups: soc.culture.hawaii
The Cannibalism Post…
John Long
5/9/96
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What does a cannible get when he’s late for dinner? The cold shoulder.
 
Google Groups: rec.humor
CANNIBAL
Nancy Carson
10/23/96
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What did the cannibal get when he was late for dinner?  The cold shoulder.
   
Google Groups: rec.food.cooking
Cannibal Cousine 😊
PENMART10
9/20/97
(...)
What did the cannibal get when he was late for dinner?
The cold shoulder.
 
Google Books
Who Put the Skunk in the Trunk?:
Learning to Laugh When Life Stinks
By Phil Callaway
New York, NY: Doubleday Religious Publishing Group
1999
Pg. 54:
‘What did the cannibal get when he was late for breakfast? The cold shoulder.’
 
Google Books
Dr. Speedy’s Jokes and Riddles
By Higino Gonzalez
Lincoln, NE: iUniverse.com, Inc.
2000
Pg. 87:
Q: What did the cannibal get when he was late for dinner?
A: The cold shoulder.
 
Google Books
Over 1500 Fantastic Jokes
By Guy Campbell and Paul Moran
London: Dean
2002
Pg. 272:
What did the cannibal get when he was late for dinner?
The cold shoulder.
 
Twitter
LaffGaff
‏@LaffGaff
When the cannibal showed up late to the luncheon, they gave him the cold shoulder.
#funny #jokes #funnyjokes
4:12 PM - 13 Jul 2015