shrug

Meaning

Noun

1. A lifting of the shoulders to signal indifference or a casual lack of knowledge.
2. A cropped, cardigan-like garment with short or long sleeves, typically knitted.

Verb

To raise (the shoulders) to express uncertainty, lack of concern, (formerly) dread, etc.

Synonyms

jerk

draw back

duck

🦆

lift

purse

👛

raise

shut

move up and down

make narrower

scringe

bolero jacket

bolero

shrug one's shoulders

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ʃɹʌɡ/

Etymology

From Middle English schruggen, shrukken, probably of North Germanic origin related to Danish skrugge, skrukke (“to stoop; crouch”), Swedish skruga, skrukka (“to huddle; crouch”), all from or related to Old Norse skrykkva, from Proto-Germanic *skrinkwaną. Compare also Old English scrincan (“to shrink”). More at shrink.