I told him that I thought he was crazy and got 'the silent treatment' for the rest of the day. [=he refused to talk to me for the rest of the day]
You have the 'right to remain silent'. [=the legal right not to say anything when you are arrested]
Whenever she gets mad at me, she 'gives me the silent treatment'. [=she does not speak to me]
(..) What do the runes say? If Odin willed that Eric should die... Thor's hammer would sound his death knell. But the sky is silent. The curse of Odin waits on him... who kills the slave. Then no man shall kill him. Let the tide of the sea do it! (..)1958 The Vikings