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.

Related

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

Opposites
business operation status

shut up shopopen for business

set up shop · open up · hang out one's shingle · start up · start the day

activity continuation (figurative)

shut up shopkeep going

Maintain forward progress

carry on · press on · soldier on · stick with it · persevere

Family

shut, shuts, shutting, ups, upped, upping, shop, shops, shopped

Familiarity
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Profile
Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G