1clam upphrasal verbphr vinformalTALK TO somebody to suddenly stop talking, especially when you are nervous or shy 〔尤指因紧张、害羞而〕突然闭口,突然沉默不语
A sensitive child is likely just to clam up.
敏感的孩子可能就会闭口不言。
Examples from the Corpus
clam up• He always clams up when I ask him about his job -- do you think he's doing something illegal?• The police took her in for questioning, but she clammed up when they asked about her boyfriend.
Examples from the Corpus
clam• He'd noted that Howard had clammed up as the new arrival appeared.• Normally she would have clammed up at that juncture.• But he clammed up right after that.• No wonder he clammed up whenever I asked him about his childhood.• Both Noland and Hull showed the good taste to clam up while the Symington trial is still under way.• We had gone over his script over and over and he knew it cold, but he almost clammed up.
Originclam1
(1500-1600)clam“two-part fastener”((14-20 centuries)), from Old Englishclamm“chain, rope, etc. for tying something up”; from the tight shutting of a clam shell