Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
shrug [shruhg] ExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for shrug on Thesaurus.com verb (used with object), shrugged, shrug·ging.
- to raise and contract (the shoulders), expressing indifference, disdain, etc.
verb (used without object), shrugged, shrug·ging.
- to raise and contract the shoulders.
noun
- the movement of raising and contracting the shoulders.
- a short sweater or jacket that ends above or at the waistline.
Verb Phrases
- shrug off,
- to disregard; minimize: to shrug off an insult.
- to rid oneself of: to shrug off the effects of a drug.
Origin of shrug 1350–1400; (v.) Middle English schruggen to shudder, shrug late Middle English shrugge a tug, pull, derivative of the v.Related formsun·shrug·ging, adjective Related Words for shrug nod, signal, sign, token, indication, action, reminder, expression, salute, hurtle, fling, bump, flop, jolt, bounce, snatch, wriggle, wiggle, wrench, lug Examples from the Web for shrug Contemporary Examples of shrug
“The girls I used to race with would just pull their pants around their ankles and hang off the back,” Ralphie says with I shrug.
Lizzie Crocker
October 11, 2014
Mason ambles through life, free to enjoy the little moments and shrug off the big ones, just like his father did before him.
Black ‘Boyhood’ Is Always Black First, Boy Later
Teo Bugbee
August 30, 2014
Around my own friends, someone will wind up a conversation with a shrug and a baffling—to me—utterance of “Haters gonna hate.”
Why We Should Hate ‘Haters Gonna Hate’
Tim Teeman
August 25, 2014
Of course this gets at the heart of why some attacks on black Republicans inspire a shrug.
The Secret War On Black Republicans
Keli Goff
July 11, 2014
Yet, relative to the massive amount of attention, shock, and criticism, I can only muster a shrug and a plea to chill out.
The Internet’s Latest Pearl-Clutching Panic Over Mamading Is Insane
Emily Shire
July 4, 2014
Historical Examples of shrug
He returned with a shrug of the shoulders to his table in the morning-room.
William J. Locke
The shoulders of Mr Verloc, without actually moving, suggested a shrug.
Joseph Conrad
“They are paying themselves for the mules and horses,” said Fray Henriques with a shrug.
H. Rider Haggard
“That you will find out,” she said, with a shrug of her shoulders.
H. Rider Haggard
A machine which makes a Frenchman shrug his shoulders with good reason.
Ambrose Bierce
British Dictionary definitions for shrug shrug verb shrugs, shrugging or shrugged
- to draw up and drop (the shoulders) abruptly in a gesture expressing indifference, contempt, ignorance, etc
noun
- the gesture so made
- a woman’s short jacket or close-fitting cardigan
Word Origin for shrug C14: of uncertain origin Word Origin and History for shrug v.
c.1400, schurgyng, of uncertain origin. Perhaps connected to Danish skrugge “to stoop, crouch.” Related: Shrugged; shrugging. To shrug (something) off “dismiss” is recorded from 1909.
n.
a shoulder motion meant to express indifference, want of an answer, etc., 1590s, from shrug (v.).