clam up
Suddenly stop talking
To clam up is to suddenly stop talking or refuse to speak, especially when questioned or pressed for information.
The image is of a clam snapping its shell shut.
She was chatty until I asked about her ex, then she clammed up.
Someone who clams up becomes tight-lipped, guarded, or uncooperative.
Unwilling to divulge
- muteWithout voice or sound
- speechlessUnable to talk
- wordlessLacking spoken content
- quietLacking in sound
hushed · taciturn · laconic · uncommunicative · unresponsive · reticent · reserved · inarticulate
Uncomfortably self-conscious
- timidLacking courage or confidence
- inhibitedHeld back by self-consciousness
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
- diffidentLacking self-assurance
introverted · withdrawn · shrinking · meek · mousy · sheepish · nervous · awkward
Protective or easily threatened
- waryGuardedly alert
- cautiousCareful to avoid risk
- suspiciousInclined to distrust
- distrustfulLacking faith in others
evasive · cagey · circumspect · reluctant · hesitant · careful · discreet · protective
Inclined to conceal
- covertIntentionally concealed
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
hidden · concealing · cryptic · enigmatic · mysterious · confidential · hush-hush · under wraps
Uneasy and apprehensive
- stressedOverwhelmed by pressure
- tenseStrained or nervous
- uneasyTroubled, not calm
- apprehensiveFearful of future events
panicked · frozen · paralyzed · rattled · flustered · overwhelmed · intimidated · spooked
tight-lipped
Unwilling to divulge
- muteWithout voice or sound
- speechlessUnable to talk
- wordlessLacking spoken content
quiet · hushed · taciturn · laconic · uncommunicative · unresponsive · reticent · reserved · inarticulate · tongue-tied
bashful
Uncomfortably self-conscious
- timidLacking courage or confidence
- inhibitedHeld back by self-consciousness
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
diffident · introverted · withdrawn · shrinking · meek · mousy · sheepish · nervous · awkward · uncomfortable
defensive
Protective or easily threatened
- waryGuardedly alert
- cautiousCareful to avoid risk
- suspiciousInclined to distrust
distrustful · evasive · cagey · circumspect · reluctant · hesitant · careful · discreet · protective · withholding
secretive
Inclined to conceal
surreptitious · hidden · concealing · cryptic · enigmatic · mysterious · confidential · hush-hush · under wraps · incognito
nervous
Uneasy and apprehensive
apprehensive · panicked · frozen · paralyzed · rattled · flustered · overwhelmed · intimidated · spooked · startled
- silencequiet, silent, mute, hush, stillness
- Stress Responsespanic, freeze, fight, flight, cope
- silence commandshush, shh, shush, be quiet, quiet
- concealmentconceal, hiding, concealing, concealed, hide
- evasionevasion, avoiding, avoids, evade, dodging
- fishing idiomshook line and sinker, fish out of water, the one that got away, fishing for compliments, fish or cut bait
clam upopen up
Reveal inner thoughts
spill the beans · talk · blab · spill · confess
clam upopen up
Reveal inner thoughts
pour one's heart out · bare one's soul · confide · let it all out · let one's guard down
clam, exclaim, reclaim, proclaim, acclaim, disclaim, disclaimer, clammed up, declamatory