shut up shop
End business permanently
To shut up shop is to close a business, either for the day or permanently.
The phrase extends to ending any activity or operation: After the funding fell through, we shut up shop.
British in origin, it carries a note of finality—less about locking doors than calling it quits.
- ceaseTo discontinue activity
- terminateBring to an end
- closeNearby or to shut
- concludeEnd or infer
- discontinueTo stop doing
liquidate · shutter · turn off the lights · go out of business · bow out · wind up · fold · suspend · retire · hang up one's hat · knock off · take a break · finish up · call it a day · pack it in · hang it up · end · throw in the towel
shut up shopopen for business
set up shop · open up · hang out one's shingle · start up · start the day
shut up shopkeep going
Maintain forward progress
carry on · press on · soldier on · stick with it · persevere
shut, shuts, shutting, ups, upped, upping, shop, shops, shopped