shrug: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
CommonNeutral to informal
Quick answer
What does “shrug” mean?
To raise and lower one's shoulders slightly to express indifference, doubt, or lack of knowledge.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To raise and lower one's shoulders slightly to express indifference, doubt, or lack of knowledge.
To dismiss or ignore something casually, often in the phrase 'shrug off'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; the word and gesture are identical in both variants.
Connotations
Conveys indifference, dismissal, or lack of concern in both British and American English.
Frequency
Equally common in everyday speech and writing across both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “shrug” in a Sentence
transitive: shrug something (e.g., shrug off a problem)intransitive: shrug (e.g., he shrugged at the news)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shrug” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He shrugged when questioned about the train delays.
American English
- She shrugged off the criticism during the debate.
adjective
British English
- With a shrugged gesture, he showed his apathy.
American English
- Her shrugged reaction was typical of his indifference.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally to describe casually dismissing feedback or concerns, e.g., in meetings.
Academic
Rare in formal writing; more common in descriptive or narrative contexts.
Everyday
Very common in conversation to express indifference or uncertainty.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields; reserved for general language descriptions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shrug”
- Omitting 'shoulders' when context is unclear, leading to ambiguity.
- Misspelling as 'shrink' due to phonetic similarity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is frequently used as both, but the verb form is more common in everyday speech to describe the action.
Yes, the context often implies shoulders, as in 'he shrugged in response', making it clear from the gesture.
'Shrug' refers to the physical gesture of raising and lowering shoulders, while 'shrug off' means to dismiss or ignore something lightly.
The IPA transcription is identical (/ʃrʌɡ/), but in American English, the 'r' sound may be more rhotic, though this is subtle and not reflected in standard IPA.
To raise and lower one's shoulders slightly to express indifference, doubt, or lack of knowledge.
Shrug is usually neutral to informal in register.
Shrug: in British English it is pronounced /ʃrʌɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ʃrʌɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “shrug it off”
- “shrug one's shoulders”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'shrug' as a quick 'shoulder hug' – a lift and drop to show you don't care.
Conceptual Metaphor
Dismissal or indifference represented as a physical gesture of lifting and lowering shoulders.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'shrug off'?