shut up
make someone or something stop talking or making noise
What does "shut sb/sth up" mean?
Examples
- He shut up the moment she gave him a look.
- Nothing could shut those kids up once they started arguing.
- Shut up! Are you seriously telling me you won the competition?
How to use it
The most common use — a direct command to stop talking or making noise, with no object needed.
Shut up! I'm trying to hear what she's saying.
When a pronoun is the object, it must go between 'shut' and 'up', never after 'up'.
The baby was crying all morning — nothing could shut her up.
Short noun phrases can also go in the middle, between 'shut' and 'up'.
Can you shut that dog up? It's been barking for an hour.
Use 'about' to say that someone should stop talking about a specific subject.
He just won't shut up about his new phone.
Often used in reported speech to describe telling another person to be quiet.
She finally told her brother to shut up and let her finish.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When you use a pronoun like 'him', 'her', or 'them', it must go between 'shut' and 'up'. Putting it after 'up' is ungrammatical.
'Shut up' is blunt and can sound rude or aggressive. In formal, professional, or polite situations, use 'be quiet' or 'please keep the noise down' instead.
"Shut up" can also mean to lock or confine someone in a place (e.g., 'shut up in a room'). This is a different meaning. The 'stop talking' sense never uses 'in' or 'inside' after it.
Usage
Very informal and often rude, especially as a direct command; avoid in formal or professional situations. Among close friends, 'Oh, shut up!' can be playful, and 'Shut up! Really?!' can express surprised disbelief rather than anger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'shut up' be used in a friendly or joking way?
Yes, between close friends it can sound playful rather than rude. For example, 'Oh, shut up!' said with a laugh just means something like 'Stop it!' or 'You're so funny.' Context and tone make a big difference.
What does 'Shut up! Really?!' mean — is the person angry?
Not necessarily! 'Shut up!' is also very commonly used to express surprised disbelief, similar to 'No way!' or 'Are you serious?'. This use is especially common among younger speakers and in American English. You can tell from the context and tone whether it expresses shock or anger.
Can I say 'he was shut up' to mean someone was silenced?
It's best to avoid this. The passive form sounds very unnatural for this meaning, and it could be confused with 'shut up' meaning physically confined in a space. Instead, say something like 'His sister told him to shut up' or 'That shut him up.'
What is the difference between 'shut up' and 'be quiet'?
'Be quiet' is the polite, neutral way to ask someone to stop making noise — fine in any situation. 'Shut up' is much more direct and blunt, and can easily sound rude or aggressive. Use 'be quiet' when you need to be polite.
Can 'shut up' be used about a noise, not just a person talking?
Yes! You can use it about any kind of noise, not just talking. For example, 'Can you shut that alarm up?' or 'Nothing could shut the dog up.' Any annoying or persistent sound works in this context.
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