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clam up

   Also found in: Idioms, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
clam 1  (klm)
n.
1.
a. Any of various usually burrowing marine and freshwater bivalve mollusks of the class Pelecypoda, including members of the genera Venus and Mya, many of which are edible.
b. The soft edible body of such a mollusk.
2. Informal A close-mouthed person, especially one who can keep a secret.
3. Slang A dollar: set me back 75 clams.
intr.v. clammed, clam·ming, clams
To hunt for clams.
Phrasal Verb:
clam up Informal
To refuse to talk.

[From obsolete clam-shell, shell that clamps, clam, from clam.]

clammer n.

clam 2  (klm)
n.
A clamp or vise.

[Middle English, from Old English clam, clamm, bond, fetter.]

clam up
vb
(intr, adverb) Informal to keep or become silent or withhold information
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Verb1.clam up - refuse to talk or stop talking; fall silent; "The children shut up when their father approached"
Translations
? clam up
vi (inf)keinen Piep (mehr) sagen (inf); he clammed up on meich habe kein Wort mehr aus ihm herausgekriegt (inf)


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? Mentioned in ? References in periodicals archive
 
Vogel explains how clams use muscle to clam up, how birds use it to fly, and how people have designed tools based on it.
And that's how we feel about the latest bit of silliness by Fortune magazine: Clam up.
Shelby lives in a shell, so it will clam up if it's scared or sleeping
 
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