shrug shoulders

shrug shoulders
shrug (your) shoulders to not care or feel unable to do anything.

The reason most people aren't excited about the election is that both candidates leave them shrugging their shoulders.

Related vocabulary: shrug something off Etymology: based on the literal meaning of shrug your shoulders (= to move your shoulders up as you move your head down to show you do not care or are discouraged)

New idioms dictionary. 2014.

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  • shrug your shoulders — shrug (your) shoulders to not care or feel unable to do anything. The reason most people aren t excited about the election is that both candidates leave them shrugging their shoulders. Related vocabulary: shrug something off Etymology: based on… …   New idioms dictionary

  • shrug — /shrug/, v., shrugged, shrugging, n. v.t. 1. to raise and contract (the shoulders), expressing indifference, disdain, etc. v.i. 2. to raise and contract the shoulders. 3. shrug off, a. to disregard; minimize: to shrug off an insult. b. to rid… …   Universalium

  • shrug — ► VERB (shrugged, shrugging) 1) raise (one s shoulders) slightly and momentarily to express doubt, ignorance, or indifference. 2) (shrug off) dismiss as unimportant. ► NOUN 1) an act of shrugging one s shoulders. 2) a woman s …   English terms dictionary

  • shrug — shrug, n. A gesture consisting of drawing up the shoulders, a motion usually expressing doubt, indifference, or dislike; it is sometimes accompanied by a slight turning of the hands outward or upward. Such a gesture may be made, as in answering… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Shrug — (shr[u^]g), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shrugged} (shr[u^]gd); p. pr. & vb. n. {Shrugging} (shr[u^]g g[i^]ng).] [Probably akin to shrink, p. p. shrunk; cf. Dan. skrugge, skrukke, to stoop, dial. Sw. skrukka, skruga, to crouch.] To draw up or contract… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shrug something off — shrug (something) off to act as if something is unimportant or not a problem. Although constantly troubled by a lack of money, he was able to shrug it off with a joke. The runner has been trying hard to shrug off a back injury that doesn t seem… …   New idioms dictionary

  • shrug off — shrug (something) off to act as if something is unimportant or not a problem. Although constantly troubled by a lack of money, he was able to shrug it off with a joke. The runner has been trying hard to shrug off a back injury that doesn t seem… …   New idioms dictionary

  • Shrug — Shrug, v. i. To raise or draw up the shoulders, as in expressing doubt, indifference, dislike, dread, or the like. [1913 Webster] They grin, they shrug. They bow, they snarl, they snatch, they hug. Swift. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shrug — [shrug] vt., vi. shrugged, shrugging [ME schruggen, orig., to shiver (as with cold)] to draw up (the shoulders), as in expressing indifference, doubt, disdain, contempt, etc. n. 1. the gesture so made 2. a woman s short jacket or sweater with… …   English World dictionary

  • shrug somebody away — ˌshrug sb/sth ˈoff/aˈway derived to push sb/sth back or away with your shoulders • Kevin shrugged off his jacket. • She shrugged him away angrily. Main entry: ↑shrugderived …   Useful english dictionary

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