Shrugged
/ʃrʌgd/
verbA2past tense
Definition
To shrug means to lift your shoulders up and then down, usually to show that you do not know the answer, you are not sure, or you do not care about something. It is a simple body movement used to express feelings without words.
Was this helpful?
See It in Action
To raise and lower shoulders to show not knowing or not caring
- •She shrugged when I asked her about the missing keys.
- •He shrugged his shoulders to show he was not worried.
- •They shrugged and said they had no idea what happened.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "shrugged" like "said no idea," but using your body instead of words.
- ✓Picture someone raising their shoulders quickly and dropping them, like a small, quick "I don't know" signal.
- ✓It's the feeling when you want to say "I don't care" or "I don't know" but without talking.
- ✓Sounds like "shrugged" → imagine someone quickly pulling a "shrug" sweater up and down on their shoulders.
- ✓Think of a person in a movie who doesn't want to answer a question and just lifts their shoulders.
- ✓NOT like "nod" (which means yes), "shrug" means "I don't know" or "I don't care."
- ✓NOT like "shake head" (which means no), "shrug" is about uncertainty or indifference.
- ✓NOT like "wave" (which is to say hello or goodbye), "shrug" is a small, quiet gesture.
Try Other Words
- •Ignored: to not pay attention (Use when the person does not care and avoids the topic)
- •Hesitated: paused before answering (Use when someone is unsure and takes time to think)
- •Disregarded: treated as unimportant (Use when someone shows no interest or respect)
- •Waved off: moved hand to show dismissal (Use when someone rejects or refuses something)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "shrug" (the action) + "-ed" (past tense ending)
- •Etymology: From Old English "scrucgan," meaning to contract or draw up (shoulders)
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s to describe the shoulder movement showing doubt or indifference
- •Modern usage: Common in everyday English to describe a small, quick gesture of uncertainty or lack of interest
Reflect & Connect
•When have you seen someone shrug to show they do not know or care? How did it make you feel?
•Can shrugging sometimes be misunderstood? How might people interpret it differently?
Fill in the blanks
1.He shrugged his shoulders to show he didn't ___ the answer.
2.She shrugged when asked about the problem because she ___ sure what happened.
3.Unlike nodding, shrugging means ___ or not caring.
4.They shrugged ___ the question and did not give a clear answer.
5.When someone shrugs, it often means they feel ___ or uncertain.
6.After hearing the news, he just shrugged and ___ on with his work.
7.You can tell someone is unsure if they ___ their shoulders quickly.