shut one's trap
To stop talking; to be quiet.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Please shut your trap while I am working.”
“He kept complaining about the rules until his boss told him to shut his trap.”
“Despite the mounting tension in the room, he refused to shut his trap, continuing to provoke his rivals with every word he uttered.”
The expression derives from the mid-18th-century slang use of trap as a noun for the human mouth. The metaphor likens the closing of the mouth to the snapping shut of a mechanical device.
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026