shut up

A2 informal separable both

In simple words

Stop talking! Be quiet!

Literal meaning: To move something upward into a closed position — the idiomatic leap is from physical closing to silencing.

Meanings

1 A2 informal

very common

To stop talking; used as a command to tell someone to be silent.

"Will you just shut up for a minute? I'm trying to concentrate."

"Shut up and sing."
— Dixie Chicks, album title, 2006

Grammar: inseparable

2 A2 informal

very common

To cause someone to stop talking or making noise.

"Nothing could shut the toddler up once she started crying."

Grammar: separable

3 B1 neutral

common

To close and secure a building, room, or business completely.

"After the last customer left, they shut up the shop and went home."

Grammar: separable

4 B1 idiomatic slang

common

Used as an exclamation of surprise or disbelief, similar to 'No way!' or 'You're kidding!'

"'She won the lottery.' — 'Shut up! Are you serious?'"

Usage notes

As an imperative ('Shut up!'), this is considered rude and aggressive. Among close friends it can be used playfully. It can also mean to close something completely (e.g. 'shut up shop'), or informally to express disbelief ('Shut up! Really?!'). Common in both British and American English.

Commonly used with

noise shop house voice dog children

Forms

Base

shut up

I/you/we/they

3rd person

shuts up

he/she/it

Past simple

shut up

yesterday

Past participle

shut up

have + pp

-ing form

shutting up

continuous

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Synonyms

be quiet button it hold your tongue keep quiet pipe down zip it

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