turtle up
Retreat into shell
To turtle up is to withdraw into a defensive posture, like a turtle retreating into its shell.
The phrase appears in sports, gaming, and everyday contexts: a boxer who turtles up covers his head and absorbs punches rather than fighting back; a player who turtles up in a strategy game builds defenses rather than attacking.
More broadly, it describes any retreat from engagement: After the criticism, she turtled up and stopped responding to emails.
- hunker downSettle in defensively
- dig inBegin a meal
- hole upSeclude oneself in hiding
- withdrawRemove or pull away
- pull backTo retreat or disengage
retreat · go into hiding · shell · shield · cover · defensive stance · isolate · hide · protect · circle the wagons · regroup · clam up · shut down · fortify · guard · armor · brace · bunker mentality
turtle upexpose oneself
Publicly display genitals
let one's guard down · attack · stick one's neck out · charge · come out swinging
turtle upattack
Aggressive act against another
engage · come out swinging · charge · advance · confront
turtle upspread out
Extended over distance
open up · extend · stretch out · expand · unfurl