shell

bring someone out of their shell

come out of your shell - to become less shy and more friendly. Joining the drama group has brought Ian out of his shell.

See also: bring

come out of your shell

to become less shy and more friendly. Tom used to be very withdrawn but he's really come out of his shell since Susan took an interest in him.

See also: come

a shell game (American)

a method of deceiving or cheating someone, by moving things from one place to another in order to hide what you are doing. The thieves played a shell game with the police, constantly shifting the stolen goods. He owns many small businesses in different states as part of a shell game to save on taxes.

See also: game

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shell out something

to pay money. The insurance giant estimates that in Texas alone it will have to shell out $85 million to settle these claims. How much does the company expect to shell out for a solution to the problem?

Usage notes: usually said about large amounts of money