shrug
noun
- very short sweater or jacket with sleeves cut in one with the body
- gesture indicating an individual does not know an answer to a question, or does not care about something
verb
- to raise or contract the shoulders, especially in expression of disdain or indifference
- manner of speaking
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈʃɹʌɡ/ / [ˈʃʰɹʷʌɡ] / /ˈʃɹʊɡ/
noun
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.
- A lifting of the shoulders to signal indifference or a casual lack of knowledge.
“He dismissed my comment with a shrug.”
- A cropped, cardigan-like garment with short or long sleeves, typically knitted.
verb
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.
- To raise (the shoulders) to express uncertainty, lack of concern, (formerly) dread, etc.
“I asked him for an answer and he just shrugged.”
“When he saw the problem, he just shrugged and started fixing it.”