SHRUG (shrugged, shrugging)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: shrugged    , shrugging   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does shrug mean? 

• SHRUG (noun)
  The noun SHRUG has 1 sense:

1. a gesture involving the shoulders

  Familiarity information: SHRUG used as a noun is very rare.

• SHRUG (verb)
  The verb SHRUG has 1 sense:

1. raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation

  Familiarity information: SHRUG used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SHRUG (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A gesture involving the shoulders

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("shrug" is a kind of...):

gesture; motion (the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals)

Derivation:

shrug (raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation)

• SHRUG (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they shrug    ... he / she / it shrugs   
Past simple: shrugged   
Past participle: shrugged   
-ing form: shrugging   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "shrug" is one way to...):

gesticulate; gesture; motion (show, express or direct through movement)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Also:

shrug off (minimize the importance of, brush aside)

Derivation:

shrug (a gesture involving the shoulders)

 Context examples 

Holmes stopped over them for an instant, and then rose shrugging his shoulders.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The Count shrugged his broad shoulders.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You needn't shrug your shoulders, and think, 'Much she knows about such things'.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Traddles shrugged his shoulders, and was not at all surprised.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Like the smile, the shrug was twisted.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Holmes took his hat and shrugged his shoulders.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

If he did shrug his shoulders, it was not till Sir William was out of sight.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Holmes shrugged his shoulders as we walked away together.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"I see!" said Waldron, with a shrug.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At last Craven shrugged his shoulders, and handed it back.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)