shut up

Formsshuts up, shutting up, shut up

1. 1
   go quietphrasal verbderogatorytransitive or intransitiveimperative

   To stop talking or making noise, or to make someone stop.

   The kids wouldn't shut up during the movie.

   A loud whistle from the coach finally shut up the whole team.

   Similarhush, shush, quieten

   Note
2. 2
   rude orderinterjection

   A rude way to tell someone to stop talking or be quiet.

   "Shut up! I'm trying to sleep!"

   "Shut up, both of you! I can't hear the TV."

   Similarshh, shush, silence

3. 3
   no wayinterjectioncolloquial

   Used to say that something is so surprising you can hardly believe it.

   "I won two tickets to the concert!" "Shut up! No way!"

   "Our math teacher used to be a famous singer." "Shut up, really?"

   Similarno, never

   Note
4. 4
   lock awayphrasal verbtransitive

   To put someone or something in a closed place and keep them there.

   We shut up the chickens in the barn every night.

   The prisoner was shut up in a tiny cell for weeks.

   Similarconfine, lock, enclose, pen, cage

   Oppositerelease

   Note
5. 5
   close a buildingphrasal verbtransitive

   To close a building so that nobody can go in.

   Every year we shut up the cabin before the first snow.

   The town shut up the old school after the roof started leaking.

   Similarclose, lock, secure

   Oppositeopen, reopen

6. 6
   close for goodphrasal verbtransitive

   To close a business for good.

   My uncle had to shut up his shop when the new mall opened.

   They shut up the bakery last spring.

   Similarend, terminate

   Oppositestart (entry), establish

7. 7
   adjective

   Closed, so that no one can get in.

   The house next door looked dark and shut up.

   In winter the summer camp is completely shut up.

   Similarclosed, locked

   Oppositeopen

   Note

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