clamming up
Refusing to speak
Clamming up is becoming suddenly silent or refusing to speak, especially when questioned or pressured.
The image is of a clam snapping its shell shut.
Someone who was talking freely might clam up when a sensitive topic arises: He clammed up the moment I mentioned his ex.
The phrasal verb is clam up; clamming up is its present participle.
Without voice or sound
- speechlessUnable to talk
- tight-lippedUnwilling to divulge
- uncommunicativeUnwilling to share thoughts
- reticentDisinclined to speak freely
wordless · quiet · hushed · buttoned-up · tongue-tied · mum · taciturn · laconic
Wary and restrained
- waryGuardedly alert
- evasiveAvoiding direct response
- cageyReluctant to share information
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
suspicious · distrustful · cautious · reluctant · withholding · noncommittal · poker-faced · circumspect
State of anxious unease
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- tensionStretched or strained state
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- freezeBecome solid from cold
panic · jitters · stage fright · dread · trepidation · overwhelm · discomfort · self-consciousness
Ending operation or activity
- retreatingMoving back from advance
- pulling backMoving rearward or retracting
- disengagingReleasing from attachment
- isolatingSetting apart from contact
distancing · detaching · shrinking · receding · tuning out · disconnecting · checking out · shell
mute
Without voice or sound
- speechlessUnable to talk
- tight-lippedUnwilling to divulge
- uncommunicativeUnwilling to share thoughts
reticent · wordless · quiet · hushed · buttoned-up · tongue-tied · mum · taciturn · laconic · inarticulate
guarded
Wary and restrained
defensive · suspicious · distrustful · cautious · reluctant · withholding · noncommittal · poker-faced · circumspect · secretive
nervousness
State of anxious unease
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- tensionStretched or strained state
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
freeze · panic · jitters · stage fright · dread · trepidation · overwhelm · discomfort · self-consciousness · shyness
shutting down
Ending operation or activity
- retreatingMoving back from advance
- pulling backMoving rearward or retracting
- disengagingReleasing from attachment
isolating · distancing · detaching · shrinking · receding · tuning out · disconnecting · checking out · shell
- sea jokesholy mackerel, fish out of water, fish story, fish tales, off the hook
- suppressionrepression, inhibition, restraint, silencing, muzzling
clamming upopening up
Becoming less guarded
speaking freely · chattering · gabbing · holding forth · going on and on
clamming upconfessing
Admitting to a fault
spilling the beans · coming clean · fessing up · divulging · revealing
clamming uppouring one's heart out
Expressing feelings completely
expressing oneself · wearing one's heart on one's sleeve · venting · emoting · opening up