shrivel up
To become small, dry, and wrinkled, like a raisin or a dead leaf.
Meanings
To become wrinkled and shrunken through dehydration or heat.
"The tomatoes in the garden shrivelled up after weeks without rain."
"The flowers were already beginning to shrivel up in the heat."
— George Orwell, 'Burmese Days' (1934) — paraphrased
To feel so embarrassed or humiliated that one wants to disappear.
"When she pronounced his name wrong in front of everyone, he just wanted to shrivel up and die."
To gradually decrease or become insignificant.
"Investment in the sector has shrivelled up since the new regulations came into force."
Vivid and expressive. Used for plants, food, skin, and body parts drying out and contracting. Figuratively used for things losing importance, hope, or vitality. 'Up' here intensifies the completeness of the process. Common in both spoken and written English.
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Forms
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