Showing definitions 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

"You're doing so well," Garraway said, in an attempt to encourage him, to which he replied: "Shut up."

From BBC • Oct. 29, 2025

Shut up and take the money, companies told laid-off employees.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2023

"Shut up and line up!" he said again to us kids.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2022

And Beijing presented Canberra with an insulting 14-point ultimatum, the distilled essence of which was: Shut up, or else.

From Washington Post • Oct. 1, 2021

"Shut up, now, Holden," he said with his big stupid red face. "just shut up, now."

From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger