ʃʌt ʌp
informal
beginner
- Base verb:
- shut
- Particle:
- up
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "shut up" mean?
- To stop talking (impolite command)
- To make someone stop talking
- To close and lock a building
Examples
- Shut up! I'm trying to concentrate.
- I couldn't shut him up; he kept talking.
- We need to shut up the shop before we leave.
- She told me to shut up, which was rude.
- Oh, shut up! You're exaggerating.
How to use it
'Shut up!' is rude as a command. Can be used jokingly among friends. Handle with care.
Word order
For silence: intransitive or separable ('shut someone up'). For buildings: separable.
Similar expressions
be quiet
silence
close
lock
Opposites
speak
talk
open
Related phrasal verbs
- shut down
To close a business permanently
- shut off
To stop the flow or operation of something
- shut out
To prevent someone from entering
- get up
To rise from bed after sleeping
- turn up
To increase the volume, heat, or intensity of something
- give up
To stop trying to do something, often because it is too difficult
Use it in a practice answer
Try "shut up" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.