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dummy up

C1 informal separable both
In simple words

To go quiet and refuse to speak, or to make a rough model of something.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic slang

(Informal, chiefly American) To refuse to speak or give information, especially when questioned.

"The suspect dummied up as soon as his lawyer arrived and wouldn't say another word."

Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 informal

To create a rough model, layout, or prototype of something.

"The designers dummied up a version of the new magazine layout for the editorial meeting."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The 'go silent' sense is primarily older American slang, often associated with underworld or crime fiction from the mid-20th century. The 'create a mock-up' sense appears in design and publishing contexts. Neither sense is common in contemporary standard English.

Commonly used with

questions police prototype model layout witnesses

Forms

Base
dummy up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
dummies up
he/she/it
Past simple
dummied up
yesterday
Past participle
dummied up
have + pp
-ing form
dummying up
continuous

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