shrug

shrug (s̸hrug)

transitive verb, intransitive verb shrugged, shrug′·ging

to draw up (the shoulders), as in expressing indifference, doubt, disdain, contempt, etc.

Etymology: ME schruggen, orig., to shiver (as with cold)

noun

shrug off

to dismiss or disregard in a carefree way

Object

shoulder: We have tried multiple times to sit and talk with them but all they do is shrug thier shoulders and say i dont know.

Converse of object

give: Seeing no other way out of the situation, Julian gave a mental shrug and pulled the trigger.

Adjective modifier

Gallic: The standard answer was invariably a Gallic shrug: sometimes you get in, sometimes you don't.

Modifying Another Word

nonchalantly: She now shrugs nonchalantly and gives those who dare to say anything her famous bored look.
merely: He merely shrugged his shoulders; " We'll see.
slightly: You shrug slightly Drasoini says, " The Aether heals in different ways.
simply: These are not just anomalies or paradoxes about which we can simply shrug our shoulders.
just: The Air Force didn't take any side, they just shrugged.
easily: His stone-like skin can easily shrug off high-caliber bullets.

Followed by an intransitive particle

off: There is a stigma attached to people who are mentally ill which they can not seem to shrug off.

Followed by a transitive particle

off: A more perfect way to shrug off the terrors of the day I cannot imagine.
aside: The profession can no longer with impunity shrug aside reasonable requests to mediate.

Used with why or when

when: Yes, I should be along tomorrow, and will explain about the shrug when I see you.

Particle object:

disappointment: South shrugged off this disappointment and were back on terms soon after.
defender: It came from Billy Morris, he took a throw in from Jackie Chew and turned his man before shrugging off another defender.
criticism: Start of term report: must do better Sep 6, Analysis: Firm in school security checks row shrugs off new criticism.
injury: Dani Pedrosa shrugged off injuries from a practice crash to finish third, ahead of championship leader Nicky Hayden.
challenge: The meeting began with a characteristic tapes-to-flag victory from Adams, who comfortably shrugged off an early challenge from Hancock.
concern: The US government has given its thumbs-up to Microsoft's search box plans for Vista, shrugging off concerns raised recently by Google.

Preposition: of

shoulder: At best, there was impotent rage; at worst, a shrug of the shoulders.

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