v. t.
He shrugs his shoulders when you talk of securities. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i. To raise or draw up the shoulders, as in expressing doubt, indifference, dislike, dread, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]
They grin, they shrug.
They bow, they snarl, they snatch, they hug. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]
On Sept. 23, in a major speech in New York, the chairman of the
The Spaniards talk in dialogues
Of heads and shoulders, nods and shrugs. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. To ignore; to disregard; to brush aside; to minimize{ 2 } the effects of;