| 词汇 | clam up |
| 释义 | Idiom clam up Theme: SILENCE to shut up; to refuse to talk; to close one's mouth (as tightly as a clam closes its shell). (Slang.)You talk too much, John. Clam up!When they tried to question her, she clammed up. Slang clam up Theme: SILENCE in. to get quiet.The minute they got him inside the cop-shop, he clammed up.You'll clam up if you know what's good for you. Idiom clam up to refuse to talk or answer.Every time I think he's going to tell me what's bothering him, he just clams up. Etymology: based on the behavior of a clam (= a sea creature), which quickly closes its shell when something touches it Phr V clam up clams, clamming, clammed clam up informal to become silent or to refuse to speak about something, usually because you are shy or afraidIt's difficult to get proper information because everyone clams up the moment they realise the police are involved. clam up ⇨ clam; clam upverb to stop talking US, 1916clam up informal to suddenly stop talking or to refuse to say anything about a subject, because you do not want to talk about it or because you are shy: Howard clammed up as soon as the others came into the room. I tried asking him about Eileen, but he just clammed up completely.clam up on sb (=suddenly stop talking to someone about something) Celia wondered why her mother clammed up on her whenever she asked what had happened to her father in the war. clam upTo suddenly stop talking or refuse to speak, typically due to a particular reason. The phrase refers to a clam closing its shell. Naturally, everyone clammed up as soon as the check came. Our usual informant clammed up when he realized there was a mole in the department. clam upto say nothing. (Closing one's mouth in the way that a clam closes up.) The minute they got him in for questioning, he clammed up. You'll clam up if you know what's good for you. clam upRefuse to talk or respond, as in Whenever she asks her teenager about his activities, he clams up. This term alludes to the tightly closed valves of a live clam. [Slang; early 1900s] clam upv. Slang To refuse to talk or to stop talking suddenly: The politician clammed up when the reporters started to ask about the scandal. clam up in. to get quiet. (see also dummy up.) The minute they got him inside the cop-shop, he clammed up. |
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