B2verbemotionsrelationships
US/ʃrʌɡ/
UK/ʃrʌɡ/
to lift your shoulders up and drop them to show you don't know or don't care
In context
When I asked where the keys were, he just shrugged.
She shrugged her shoulders and said, 'It's not my problem.'
You can't just shrug off the doctor's warning about your blood pressure.
Words that go with shrug
verb + noun
- shrug one's shouldersHe shrugged his shoulders when I asked about his plans.
verb + adverb
- shrug offThe team shrugged off the defeat and won the next game.
- shrug it offThe comment hurt him, but he tried to shrug it off and keep working.
- shrug slightlyShe shrugged slightly, as if the news didn't matter.
- shrug helplesslyThe waiter shrugged helplessly; the kitchen was closed.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
He shrugged his shoulder.Correct: He shrugged his shoulders.