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Phrasal verbs "hush up" vs "shut up"

Differences between hush up and shut up

Hush up and shut up are similar in meaning, but hush up is usually used to ask someone to be quiet in a gentle or polite way, while shut up is more forceful and can be considered rude or impolite.

Meanings and Definitions: hush up vs shut up

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Hush up

  • 1Try to keep something bad from becoming widely known.

    scandal, but it still got into the The company tried to HUSH UP the newspapers.

Shut up

  • 1Stop talking or making noise.

    He told us to SHUT UP and start working.

  • 2Close for a period of time.

    They SHUT the shop UP for a fortnight while they were on holiday.

Usage Examples: hush up, shut up in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

hush up

Example

They tried to hush up the incident, but the news spread quickly.

Example

She hushes up her mistakes to avoid getting into trouble.

shut up

Example

Please shut up and let me concentrate.

Example

He never shuts up when he starts talking about his favorite topic.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Hush up

quiet down

To become less noisy or loud.

Example

Could you quiet down a bit? I'm trying to concentrate.

keep it down

To speak or make noise more quietly.

Example

Can you keep it down? My baby is sleeping.

lower one's voice

To speak more quietly or softly.

Example

Could you lower your voice? You're disturbing the other patrons.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Shut up

be quiet

To stop talking or making noise.

Example

Could you be quiet? I'm trying to listen to the speaker.

keep quiet

To remain silent or not speak.

Example

I told him to keep quiet about the surprise party so he wouldn't spoil it.

zip it

To stop talking or be quiet.

Example

I had to tell my friend to zip it during the movie because she kept asking questions.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “up”

Differences in hush up vs shut up: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: hush up or shut up?

In daily conversation, people use shut up more often than hush up. This is because shut up is more direct and forceful, while hush up is more gentle and polite. However, both phrases are informal and should be used with caution in certain situations.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of hush up and shut up

Hush up and shut up are informal phrases that are not suitable for formal settings like business or academic contexts. In these situations, it's better to use more polite expressions like 'please be quiet' or 'could you lower your voice, please?'

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of hush up and shut up

The tone of hush up and shut up can differ based on context. Hush up often carries a calm and gentle tone, while shut up can be more aggressive and confrontational.

hush up & shut up: Synonyms and Antonyms

Hush up

Synonyms

Shut up

Synonyms

  • silence
  • be quiet
  • hush
  • stop talking
  • hold your tongue
  • keep quiet
  • pipe down
  • button it

Antonyms

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