shrug

shrug
shrug shrug, n. A gesture consisting of drawing up the shoulders, -- a motion usually expressing doubt, indifference, or dislike; -- it is sometimes accompanied by a slight turning of the hands outward or upward. Such a gesture may be made, as in answering "who knows" to a question, suggesting utter ignorance of an answer and a disinclination to pursue the topic further. [1913 Webster +PJC]

On Sept. 23, in a major speech in New York, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commision, Arthur Levitt asked the Big Board to spike the rule [Rule 390] in the interest of free and unfettered markets. . . . Mr. Grasso responded with a shrug, saying that he had no plans to kill the rule. --Gretchen Morgenson (N. Y. Times Nov. 28, 1999 sect. 3 p. 1. [PJC]

The Spaniards talk in dialogues Of heads and shoulders, nods and shrugs. --Hudibras. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • shrug — /shrug/, v., shrugged, shrugging, n. v.t. 1. to raise and contract (the shoulders), expressing indifference, disdain, etc. v.i. 2. to raise and contract the shoulders. 3. shrug off, a. to disregard; minimize: to shrug off an insult. b. to rid… …   Universalium

  • Shrug — Shrug, v. i. To raise or draw up the shoulders, as in expressing doubt, indifference, dislike, dread, or the like. [1913 Webster] They grin, they shrug. They bow, they snarl, they snatch, they hug. Swift. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shrug — [shrug] vt., vi. shrugged, shrugging [ME schruggen, orig., to shiver (as with cold)] to draw up (the shoulders), as in expressing indifference, doubt, disdain, contempt, etc. n. 1. the gesture so made 2. a woman s short jacket or sweater with… …   English World dictionary

  • Shrug — (shr[u^]g), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shrugged} (shr[u^]gd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Shrugging} (shr[u^]g g[i^]ng).] [Probably akin to shrink, p. p. shrunk; cf. Dan. skrugge, skrukke, to stoop, dial. Sw. skrukka, skruga, to crouch.] To draw up or contract… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shrug — shrug; shrug·ging·ly; …   English syllables

  • shrug — ► VERB (shrugged, shrugging) 1) raise (one s shoulders) slightly and momentarily to express doubt, ignorance, or indifference. 2) (shrug off) dismiss as unimportant. ► NOUN 1) an act of shrugging one s shoulders. 2) a woman s …   English terms dictionary

  • shrug — off …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • shrug — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ little, slight, small ▪ simple ▪ The answer was a simple shrug. ▪ careless, indifferent …   Collocations dictionary

  • shrug — 01. The young boy [shrugged] when his teacher asked him why he hadn t done his homework. 02. When I asked him what the matter was, he just [shrugged] and looked away. 03. The little girl [shrugged] her shoulders when her mother asked her if… …   Grammatical examples in English

  • shrug — shrug1 W3 [ʃrʌg] v past tense and past participle shrugged present participle shrugging [I and T] to raise and then lower your shoulders in order to show that you do not know something or do not care about something ▪ I just shrugged my shoulders …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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