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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | scyttan |
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shut1 S1 W2
past tense and past participle shut, present participle shutting
past tense and past participle shut, present participle shutting1 [intransitive and transitive] to close something, or to become closed : 
Shut the window, Ellen!I heard his bedroom door shut. He shut the drawer and turned the key. ➔ see usage note close1
Shut the window, Ellen!I heard his bedroom door shut.He shut the drawer and turned the key.2 used to tell someone to stop talking
shut your mouth/face/trap!
also shut your gob!/shut it! British English spoken not polite3 [intransitive and transitive] British English to stop being open to the public for a short time or permanently [= close]: The post office shuts at 5 o'clock. At midday we shut the shop for lunch. He lost his job when they shut the factory.
The post office shuts at 5 o'clock.At midday we shut the shop for lunch.He lost his job when they shut the factory.4 to deliberately refuse to notice or pay attention to something : We ought not to shut our eyes to these facts. She heard the boys shouting to her to stop, but she shut her ears to them.
shut your eyes/ears to something
We ought not to shut our eyes to these facts.She heard the boys shouting to her to stop, but she shut her ears to them.5 to shut a door etc against something so that it gets trapped there : I shut my finger in the back door yesterday and it still hurts.
shut something in the door/drawer etc
British English; shut the door/drawer etc on something
American EnglishI shut my finger in the back door yesterday and it still hurts.shut somebody/something away
phrasal verb1 to put someone or something in a place away from other people where they cannot be seen : A lot of people are classed as mad and shut away unnecessarily.
A lot of people are classed as mad and shut away unnecessarily.2 to deliberately avoid seeing people by staying at home or going to a quiet place, especially because you are very unhappy or want to study, write etc : When news came of Robin's death, she shut herself away and saw no one.
shut yourself away
When news came of Robin's death, she shut herself away and saw no one.shut down
phrasal verb1 if a company, factory, large machine etc shuts down or is shut down, it stops operating, either permanently or for a short time : Our local hardware shop has shut down.
Our local hardware shop has shut down. shut something ↔ down an accident which resulted in two of the plant's nuclear reactors being shut down The way to shut the machine down is to type EXIT.
an accident which resulted in two of the plant's nuclear reactors being shut downThe way to shut the machine down is to type EXIT.2 to prevent an opposing team or player from playing well or getting points We all knew that to win we'd have to shut down Bobby Mitchell.
shut somebody ↔ down
informalDSWe all knew that to win we'd have to shut down Bobby Mitchell.shut somebody in (something)
phrasal verba) if you shut someone in a room, you close the door and stop them from getting out : Her parents shut her in an upstairs room. He pushed the dogs into the breakfast room and shut them in.
Her parents shut her in an upstairs room.He pushed the dogs into the breakfast room and shut them in.b) if you shut yourself in a room, you close the door and stay in there, and often stop other people from coming in : Ellie darted back to her room and shut herself in. He shut himself in his room and wrote letters.
shut yourself in (something)
Ellie darted back to her room and shut herself in.He shut himself in his room and wrote letters.shut off
phrasal verb1 if a machine, tool etc shuts off or if you shut it off, it stops operating [= turn off]: The iron shuts off automatically if it gets too hot.
The iron shuts off automatically if it gets too hot. shut something ↔ off I let the engine run for a minute and then shut it off. Don't forget to shut off the water supply.
I let the engine run for a minute and then shut it off.Don't forget to shut off the water supply.2 to prevent goods or supplies from being available or being delivered : a strike that closed the mines and shut off coal supplies
shut something ↔ off
a strike that closed the mines and shut off coal supplies4 to be separated from other people or things, especially so that you are not influenced by them : The valley is shut off from the modern world.
be shut off from something
The valley is shut off from the modern world.shut out
phrasal verb1 to deliberately not let someone join you in an activity or share your thoughts and feelings : How can I help you if you just keep shutting me out all the time?
shut somebody out
How can I help you if you just keep shutting me out all the time?2 to prevent someone or something from entering a place : heavy curtains that shut out the sunlight
shut somebody/something ↔ out
heavy curtains that shut out the sunlight3 to stop yourself from thinking about or noticing something, so that you are not affected by it : People close their windows at night in a vain attempt to shut out the sound of gunfire. She shut out memories of James.
shut something ↔out
People close their windows at night in a vain attempt to shut out the sound of gunfire.She shut out memories of James.4 to defeat an opposing sports team and prevent them from getting any points : Colorado shut out Kansas City 3-0.
shut out somebody
American EnglishDSColorado shut out Kansas City 3-0.shut up
phrasal verb1 used to tell someone to stop talking [= be quiet!]:
shut up!
spoken not polite• Oh, shut up! I don't want to hear your excuses.
• Just shut up and listen.
2 to stop talking or be quiet, or to make someone do this : I can't stand that woman. She never shuts up. I only said that to shut her up.
shut (somebody) up
informalI can't stand that woman. She never shuts up.I only said that to shut her up.3 to keep someone in a place away from other people, and prevent them from leaving Was there any need to keep us shut up here?
shut somebody up
Was there any need to keep us shut up here?4 to close a shop, room etc so that people cannot get into it : Bernadette cleaned the attic and then shut it up for another year.
shut something ↔ up
Bernadette cleaned the attic and then shut it up for another year.5 to close a business or stop working, at the end of the day or permanently
shut up shop
British English informalWORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:
close, shut, lock, turn/switch offIn many contexts, the verbs close and shut can be used in exactly the same way • Please close OR shut the gate. • The windows were all closed OR shut. • She closed OR shut her eyes. • The store closes OR shuts at 7.!! Use close for a road, border, or airport • All the crossing points on the border have been closed (NOT shut).!! Before a noun, use closed • a closed door (NOT shut door)!! You cannot say 'close someone somewhere'. Use shut or lock to say that someone is put in a room or building and cannot get out • They shut her (NOT closed her) in her bedroom. • He was locked (NOT closed) in a cell.Use switch off or turn off with electrical things • Will you turn off (NOT close) the TV? • I switched off (NOT closed) all the lights. ➔ See also close
WORD CHOICE: close, shut, lock, turn/switch offIn many contexts, the verbs close and shut can be used in exactly the same way • Please close OR shut the gate. • The windows were all closed OR shut. • She closed OR shut her eyes. • The store closes OR shuts at 7.!! Use close for a road, border, or airport • All the crossing points on the border have been closed (NOT shut).!! Before a noun, use closed • a closed door (NOT shut door)!! You cannot say 'close someone somewhere'. Use shut or lock to say that someone is put in a room or building and cannot get out • They shut her (NOT closed her) in her bedroom. • He was locked (NOT closed) in a cell.Use switch off or turn off with electrical things • Will you turn off (NOT close) the TV? • I switched off (NOT closed) all the lights. ➔ See also close
