put up or shut up
To desist from saying something unless one is able to prove it; to act in a manner that makes further talk unnecessary.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“If you think you can win, put up or shut up.”
“He kept bragging about his skills, so his friend told him to put up or shut up.”
“The politician challenged his opponent to put up or shut up regarding the corruption allegations, demanding evidence instead of mere rhetoric.”
- 01
keep one's mouth shut
To keep a secret; to refrain from speaking indiscreetly or carelessly; broadly, to refrain from speaking altogether.
- 02
lipstick on a pig
To make superficial or cosmetic changes to something in a doomed attempt to disguise its fundamental flaws.
- 03
not to put too fine a point on it
Used to apologize for a possibly impolite statement one is making; to put it bluntly; to express it in plain terms.
- 04
put a band-aid on a bullet wound
To inadequately treat a serious situation.
- 05
put a blanket over
Make (something) seem less serious.
- 06
put a bug in someone's ear
To make a small suggestion or give a hint that causes the listener to act.
- 07
put a damper on
To stop people from enjoying an activity.
- 08
put a foot wrong
To make a mistake.
Last updated August 10, 2026