Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

clam up

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.22 in modern English

Syllables: clam up
IPA

12

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

1

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To become silent; to stop talking.

Informal; Intransitive verb

verb

To make or become clammy.

Example Sentences

"Maybe he … or she … was a witness who refused to clam up … a whistle blower …"
"Teenagers' father. Alright, Matt, I think you've made your point. Matt Foley: Dad, I sincerely wish you'd do everyone a great service, and clam up!"
"“You can't clam up on me, punk! I know you're hiding something!” “Okay! Okay! I'm the one taking dumps in the urinals! I call it an "inside the park home run"! (sobbing)” “Smith, good work. Dick, that's a funny name for it.”"

Etymology

By analogy with a clam closing itself. Compare clamshell (“mouth”), clam (“mouth”).

Usage

Inflected Forms

clams up (present, singular) clamming up (participle, present) clammed up (participle, past) clammed up (past)

Synonyms

shut up shut up like a clam close up dummy up belt up button up be quiet keep mum

Antonyms

talk

Questions

What does clam up mean?: To become silent; to stop talking.
Where does clam up come from?: By analogy with a clam closing itself. Compare clamshell (“mouth”), clam (“mouth”).

How to pronounce clam up

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “clam up”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “clam up”.
Repeat and practice — Say “clam up” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.