Commonly confused
Shut up vs Shut down
“Shut up” and “Shut down” look alike but pull in different directions. Here is what each one means, with examples — and the difference that learners most often miss.
The key difference
Shut up means close completely. Shut down means stop operating completely.
shut up
- 1
Close completely; stop talking
“Shut up. I'm trying to think.”
shut down
- 1
Stop operating completely
“They shut down the factory last year.”
Stop mixing them up
Sink In turns confusable pairs like this into quick contrast drills, so the right particle becomes automatic.