clams up
Suddenly stops talking
To clam up is to stop talking or refuse to speak, especially when questioned.
The image is of a clam snapping its shell shut.
Someone who was chatty might suddenly clam up when a sensitive topic arises: He clammed up the moment I mentioned his ex.
Often implies deliberate silence rather than having nothing to say.
- speechlessUnable to talk
- silentProducing no sound
- taciturnHabitually uncommunicative
- reticentDisinclined to speak freely
- withholdingKeeping from another
keeps mum · holds back · muteness · uncommunicative · tight-lipped · lips sealed · shuts up · zips it · shuts down · bottles up · be quiet · reserved · stonewalls · nonresponsive · discretion · suppression · pipes down · interrogation
clams upopens up
Begins speaking candidly
spills the beans · blurts out · tells all · comes clean · speaks one's mind
clams upopens up
Begins speaking candidly
bares one's soul · confides · pours one's heart out · wears one's heart on one's sleeve · expresses oneself