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

"I remember him smashing his hands down on the table and saying, 'Will you shut up'. But Jurgen was great, I had a great relationship with him."

From BBC

He went quiet, and I wondered if I should have shut up after all.

From Literature

“Sing and shut up” can look awfully appealing after you’ve seen what can happen when one of your fellow musicians gets it wrong.

From Salon

“Well, it sailed without her, so…” I jab Lizzie with a shut up elbow.

From Literature

Data from consumer research firm NIQ showed that 382 hospitality firms shut up shop in the final three months of the year, more than four each day.

From BBC