What does "shrug" mean?
Shrug: To draw up or contract (the shoulders), especially by way of expressing dislike, dread, doubt, or the like. He shrugs his shoulders when you talk of securities. Addison.
Additional senses
- 2.To raise or draw up the shoulders, as in expressing dislike, dread, doubt, or the like. They grin, they shrug. They bow, they snarl, they snatch, they hug. Swift.
- 3.A drawing up of the shoulders, -- a motion usually expressing dislike, dread, or doubt. The Spaniards talk in dialogues Of heads and shoulders, nods and shrugs. Hudibras.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00