shut up

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

Idioms and Phrases

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]

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.

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

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]

Example Sentences

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

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Dek, a born intimidator with crisscrossing fangs, wishes she would shut up so he could carry on with the slaying, and falls asleep while she’s prattling on about her life.

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She said she saw Druzolowski “pointing his gun at my grandson, saying, ‘Shut up kid, shut up kid.’”

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His protest was met by vocal support for the King, including one woman who told him to "shut up".

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In elementary school, Ms. Stolzenberg always kept me from recess at lunch because I wouldn’t shut up in class.

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