Shrug — Defs

01 v. t. To draw up or contract (the shoulders), especially by way of expressing doubt, indifference, dislike, dread, or the like.

imp. & p. p. Shrugged; p. pr. & vb. n. Shrugging

1.
To draw up or contract (the shoulders), especially by way of expressing doubt, indifference, dislike, dread, or the like.
“He shrugs his shoulders when you talk of securities.” — Addison.

02 v. i. To raise or draw up the shoulders, as in expressing doubt, indifference, dislike, dread, or the like.

1.
To raise or draw up the shoulders, as in expressing doubt, indifference, dislike, dread, or the like.
“They grin, they shrug. They bow, they snarl, they snatch, they hug.” — Swift.

03 n. A gesture consisting of drawing up the shoulders, -- a motion usually expressing doubt, indifference, or dislike; -- it is sometimes accomp…

1.
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.