shut up

British  

verb

1. (tr) to prevent all access to

2. (tr) to confine or imprison

3. informal to cease to talk or make a noise or cause to cease to talk or make a noise: often used in commands

4. (intr) (of horses in a race) to cease through exhaustion from maintaining a racing pace

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shut up Idioms  

1. Imprison, confine, enclose, as in The dog was shut up in the cellar for the night , or She shut up her memories and never talked about the past . [c. 1400]

2. Close completely, as in The windows were shut up tightly so no rain came in . [Early 1500s] This usage also occurs in shut up shop , meaning “close the premises of a business,” as in It's late, let's shut up shop now . [Late 1500s] Also see close up , def. 3.

3. Cause someone to stop speaking, silence someone, as in It's time someone shut him up . [Early 1800s]

4. Stop speaking, as in I've told you what I think and now I'll shut up . This usage also occurs as a rather rude imperative, as in Shut up! You've said enough . [First half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Ms. Zenovich possesses the interviewer’s most valuable skill, knowing when to shut up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The company plans to shut up to another 30 locations during the first half of 2026, chief executive Lisa Harper said during the call.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Business owners described breaking into tears as they were forced either to lay off staff or shut up shop entirely, while employees told how they feared for their jobs.

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025

Mr. Easterly accurately describes the historical ideology that would tell the conquered to shut up and “enjoy the GDP.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

“You know they haven’t got him shut up in the teachers’ room.”

From "The Best School Year Ever" by Barbara Robinson