What is "shrug"

shrug \shrug\, n. A gesture consisting of drawing up the shoulders, -- a motion usually expressing doubt, indifference, or dislike; -- it is sometimes accompanied by a slight turning of the hands outward or upward. Such a gesture may be made, as in answering "who knows" to a question, suggesting utter ignorance of an answer and a disinclination to pursue the topic further.

On Sept. 23, in a major speech in New York, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commision, Arthur Levitt asked the Big Board to spike the rule [Rule 390] in the interest of free and unfettered markets. . . . Mr. Grasso responded with a shrug, saying that he had no plans to kill the rule.
--Gretchen Morgenson (N. Y. Times Nov. 28, 1999 sect. 3 p. 1.

The Spaniards talk in dialogues Of heads and shoulders, nods and shrugs.
--Hudibras.

a shoulder motion meant to express indifference, want of an answer, etc., 1590s, from shrug (v.).

c.1400, schurgyng, of uncertain origin. Perhaps connected to Danish skrugge "to stoop, crouch." Related: Shrugged; shrugging. To shrug (something) off "dismiss" is recorded from 1909.

n. 1 A lifting of the shoulders to signal indifference. 2 A cropped, cardigan-like garment with short or long sleeves, typically knitted. vb. (context ambitransitive English) To raise (the shoulders) to express uncertainty, lack of concern, (formerly) dread, etc.

1. n. a gesture involving the shoulders

2. [also: shrugging, shrugged]

1. v. raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation

2. [also: shrugging, shrugged]

Shrug were a three-piece alternative rock band from Northern Ireland formed by students Gary Lightbody, Mark McClelland and Michael Morrison in September 1994 while in their first year at the University of Dundee.

A shrug is a gesture that indicates either indifference or lack of knowledge.

"Shrug" can also refer to:

• Shoulder shrug, a weight training exercise
• Shrug (band), a band that later became Snow Patrol
• Shrug (clothing), an article of clothing
• "Shrug", a verb the means to cast off, as found in the Ayn Rand novel Atlas Shrugged

A shrug is a gesture that is performed by lifting both shoulders up, and is a representation of an individual either not knowing an answer to a question, or not caring about a result. It is an emblem, meaning that it integrates the vocabulary of only certain cultures and may be used in place of words. It can also be used when someone is simply ignoring the person's question. It may be accentuated with raised eyebrows, a turned-down mouth and/or an exaggerated frown, and can be accompanied by raised palms. It is very common in Western culture, rather than saying "I don't know", they would simply perform a shrug. In the English-speaking world it may be accompanied by a three-syllable grunt or hummed mumble mimicking the intonation of "I dunno".

A specific rendezvous of chronic shoulder shrugs, also misconceived, are the symptomatic tics of Tourette syndrome. Shrugging by coping with indifference and indecision, psychotherapeutic or psychoanalytic the effectuated unconditional aspect can indicate anxiety and numerous psychological disorders: a solute example is schizoid personality disorder.

The shrug gesture is a Unicode emoji included as . The shrug emoticon is also typed as ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ .

A shrug is a cropped, cardigan-like garment with short or long sleeves, typically knitted, usually for women. Generally, a shrug covers less of the body than a vest would, but it is more tailored than a shawl. Shrugs are typically worn as the outermost layer of an outfit, with a full shirt, tank top, or dress beneath.

A shrug covers a small portion of the upper body. Some shrugs are tied together just below the bustline. Another style is cut off at the sides and thus little more than a pair of sleeves joined at the back.

A bolero jacket or bolero (pronounced /bollero/) is a more formal garment of similar construction but made of stiffer fabric, essentially a short tailored jacket, inspired by the matador's chaquetilla. Like the shrug, the sides of the bolero only meet at one point.