pull the shutters down
To shut down, terminate, or ignore.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He pulls the shutters down whenever I ask about his past.”
“When the manager started discussing the budget cuts, the team pulled the shutters down and stopped listening.”
“Faced with the uncomfortable truth of his failure, he pulled the shutters down on the conversation and retreated into a cold, defensive silence.”
From the practice of shopkeepers installing roller shutters to secure their storefronts and entrances against the night. The mechanism allowed a business to be sealed once the day’s trade had concluded.
- 01
gravity's pull
Stress or pressure of a situation acting upon a person.
- 02
pull a face
To make an abnormal facial expression, either intentionally or because of an emotion.
- 03
pull a fast one
To carry out a trick or act of deception; to behave contrary to expectations.
- 04
pull a lever
To vote.
- 05
pull a rabbit out of a hat
To do something surprising and beneficial that is unexpected.
- 06
pull ahead
To move into a winning position (e.g. in a race or competition).
- 07
pull an all-nighter
To stay awake throughout the night, usually when working or studying.
- 08
pull away
To move ahead.
Last updated August 10, 2026