Phrase guide

clam up

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To become silent; to stop talking.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: shut up, shut up like a clam

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To make or become clammy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

refuse to talk or stop talking; fall silent

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The children shut up when their father approached

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: close up, dummy up, shut up, belt up, button up, be quiet, keep mum

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

By analogy with a clam closing itself. Compare clamshell (“mouth”), clam (“mouth”).

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Breton: tevel — become silent
  • Maore Comorian: uɓuriha — become silent
  • Dutch: zwijgen — become silent
  • Dutch: zijn mond houden — become silent
  • Esperanto: silenti — become silent
  • Finnish: hiljetä — become silent
  • French: la fermer — become silent
  • French: fermer son clapet — become silent
  • French: fermer son claque-merde — become silent
  • French: la boucler — become silent
  • German: schweigen — become silent
  • Greek: σωπαίνω (sopaíno) — become silent
  • Italian: tacere — become silent
  • Japanese: 黙ってしまう (damatte shimau) — become silent
  • Kazakh: үндемеу (ündemeu) — become silent
  • Limburgish: zwiege — become silent
  • Māori: whakangūngū — become silent
  • Portuguese: fechar-se — become silent
  • Russian: замолка́ть (zamolkátʹ) — become silent
  • Russian: замолча́ть (zamolčátʹ) — become silent
  • Northern Sami: jaskkodit — become silent
  • Northern Sami: jávohuvvat — become silent
  • Spanish: callarse — become silent
  • Swedish: tiga — become silent
  • Záparo: yánunu — become silent