clam up

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clam up

to refuse to talk or answer. Every time I think he's going to tell me what's bothering him, he just clams up.

Etymology: based on the behavior of a clam (= a sea creature), which quickly closes its shell when something touches it

See also: clam

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? References in periodicals archive
Vogel explains how clams use muscle to clam up, how birds use it to fly, and how people have designed tools based on it. Prime Mover: a Natural History of Muscle. (Books: a selection of new ... by Science News And that's how we feel about the latest bit of silliness by Fortune magazine: Clam up. EDITORIAL : LIFE IN THE DAMP LANE FORTUNE SNUBS CALIFORNIA CITIES IN ... by Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) Shelby lives in a shell, so it will clam up if it's scared or sleeping Furby, the Hottest Toy in History, Gets Its First Friend; Shelby ... by Business Wire More results

References in periodicals archive

Vogel explains how clams use muscle to clam up, how birds use it to fly, and how people have designed tools based on it.

Prime Mover: a Natural History of Muscle. (Books: a selection of new ... by Science News

And that's how we feel about the latest bit of silliness by Fortune magazine: Clam up.

EDITORIAL : LIFE IN THE DAMP LANE FORTUNE SNUBS CALIFORNIA CITIES IN ... by Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)

Shelby lives in a shell, so it will clam up if it's scared or sleeping

Furby, the Hottest Toy in History, Gets Its First Friend; Shelby ... by Business Wire

More results

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