Showing results for "shut up"

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Slang dictionary results for shut up.

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

See Examples For:

shut up

River goes in there just hoping not to get fired, so that’s what makes him shut up and take a lot from Jackson Lamb.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

Even harder is getting money back from sham matchmaking agencies which often shut up shop as soon as they have made enough cash.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

In response, Ham recorded a video telling Almendarez to shut up because “no one asked your opinion” and she has no “expertise in science.”

From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026

The office biohacker who won’t shut up about his sleep score may also blab about nitrogen levels in his soil.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

He meant it, and Sam knew he meant it, too, so he shut up and the conversation turned to repairs Mr. Beach wanted to make to the church.

From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier