Lexic.us

Definition of Shrug

1. Noun. A gesture involving the shoulders.

2. Verb. Raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation.

Definition of Shrug

1. v. t. To draw up or contract (the shoulders), especially by way of expressing dislike, dread, doubt, or the like.

2. v. i. To raise or draw up the shoulders, as in expressing dislike, dread, doubt, or the like.

3. n. A drawing up of the shoulders, -- a motion usually expressing dislike, dread, or doubt.

Definition of Shrug

1. Noun. A lifting of the shoulders to signal indifference. ¹

2. Verb. (intransitive) To raise the shoulders to express a lack of knowledge or certainty. ¹

3. Verb. (intransitive) To raise the shoulders to express a lack of concern or worry. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Shrug

1. to raise and contract the shoulders [v SHRUGGED, SHRUGGING, SHRUGS]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Shrug

shrubbiest shrubbiness shrubbing shrubby shrubby St John's wort shrubby penstemon shrubland shrublands shrubless shrublet

shrublike shrubs shrubsteppe shrubsteppes shruff shrug (current term) shrug off shrugged shrugging shruggingly

shrugs shrunk shrunken shtchi shtchis shtetel shtetels shtetl shtetlach shtetls

Literary usage of Shrug

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Universal Etymological English Dictionary: Containing an Additional ...by Nathan Bailey by Nathan Bailey (1737)
"... shrug, a ihr in Icing up of the Shoe! W», Bean-Shells. S. and E. С. A SHUCK, an Husk or Shell, в i То SHUD-DER ..."

2. The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton (1913)
"Undine went on, ignoring the interruption and looking straight at her under level brows; and the Princess, with a shrug, merely murmured: "What a pity! ..."

3. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1918)
"The story became common in Paris, and afterward, when any marvelous recital was heard, the listener would shrug his shoulders and exclaim, C'est un canard! ..."

4. The English Works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury by Thomas ( Hobbes (1841)
"remedy but patience, and shrug up the shoulders. NO. xiv. Either allow liberty, or destroy all societies." ' T, H. The second argument is taken from cer- ..."

5. The Bookman (1907)
"He would have lighted a cigar, and answered with a smile and a shrug, "For cet me? Impossible, my boy! I'm BARNES OF NEW YORK ! ..."

6. A Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language by Walter William Skeat (1901)
"Allied to Shrimp, shrug. Shrive: see Shrove-tide. Shrivel. (E.) In Shak. An E. word. .... shrug ..."

7. The War Diary of a Diplomat by Lee Meriwether (1919)
"On securing from him a sacred promise not to take his hands off the steering wheel in order to shrug his shoulders and gesticulate, we gave our assent to ..."

Other Resources: