- See:
- shut
- features:
- Language Note
| part of speech: |
phrase |
| definition 1: |
to enclose; confine.
They shut him up in a prison for five years.The poor woman was shut up in a mental institution for the rest of her life.- synonyms:
- confine, coop, enclose
- similar words:
- fasten, incarcerate, intern, jail, lock up, pen
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| definition 2: |
to close (a business property or home), making it as secure as possible and often covering all the windows.
The little shops along the beach had all been shut up for the winter.They shut up their cottage on the lake and returned to the city. |
| definition 3: |
to stop talking, often suddenly.
I think they were talking about me because they shut up when I walked in the room.Don't tell your sister to shut up! It's rude.- synonyms:
- hush, quiet, shush
- similar words:
- clam up, gag, muzzle, silence
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| definition 4: |
to make (someone) stop talking.
The strange noise shut everyone up. |
| related words: |
cage, hush |
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When used in the imperative, "Shut up!" in the third sense is considered rude or very informal. "Be quiet" is a more respectful way of telling someone to stop talking.