shrug

Everyday

1. To shrug is to raise your shoulders quickly and drop them, to show you do not know or do not care. tree →
2. A shrug is that movement. tree →
3. To shrug something off is to treat it as not important, or to get over it easily. tree →

In the lessons

In stories a shrug shows a character's feeling without words: not knowing, not caring. Phrases: «shrug your shoulders», «shrug it off», «with a shrug».

Examples

• «Where's your homework?» He just shrugged. tree →
• She shrugged her shoulders and said, «I don't know.» tree →
• He gave a shrug and walked away. tree →
• She shrugged off the fall and kept running. tree →
• Don't shrug when I ask you a question. tree →
• He shrugged off the cold and played on. tree →
• "All right," said Elfin, shrugging his shoulders. tree →

Note

Double g: shrugged, shrugging. A shrug can be rude when someone asks you something, so it is better to answer in words.