close up shop

USAGE SUMMARY

"close up shop" is an acceptable phrase in written English and can be used as an idiom to mean to shut down a business and/or discontinue a particular activity.
For example, "After we realized the store wasn't bringing in enough income, we decided to close up shop."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Some close up shop right after Labor Day.

The New York Times

So he decided to close up shop.

The New York Times

Grab a stool and watch the market close up shop for the day.

The New York Times - Travel

There is little incentive to observe election laws if you can just close up shop.

The New York Times

Much depends on which struggling shows close up shop during the challenging winter months to come.

The New York Times

Some managers with low assets opt to close up shop and reopen under a new name.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

So he closed up shop.

The New York Times

The ski technician at the Piz Gloria closed up shop.

The New York Times - Sports

The tiny institution that I loved abruptly closed up shop.

The New York Times

Some credit markets have effectively closed up shop.

The New York Times

The fund officially closed up shop on Tuesday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add creativity and precision to writing, instead of writing "close up shop", try to pick an alternative that works best in the context in order to give a slightly different nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "close up shop" for temporary closures or pauses; it generally implies a more permanent cessation. For short breaks, consider phrases like "temporarily suspended" or "paused operations".

Linguistic Context

The idiomatic verb phrase "close up shop" functions as a way to describe the act of permanently ceasing operations, usually in a business context. Ludwig, like other dictionary examples, confirms this usage, showing it frequently appears when businesses are facing difficulties or making strategic decisions to stop operating.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close up shop" is a common idiomatic verb phrase that signifies the cessation of business operations or the termination of an activity. According to Ludwig and the numerous examples provided, its usage is grammatically correct and primarily found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. It’s important to note that this phrase typically implies a permanent end, not a temporary pause. While widely accepted, alternative phrases like "shut down operations" or "cease trading" may be more appropriate in certain formal settings. Knowing the proper context ensures clear and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shut down operations

Implies a complete and often permanent cessation of business activities.

cease trading

Specifically refers to stopping commercial activity, often in a formal context.

go out of business

Suggests a permanent end to a business's existence due to failure or other reasons.

terminate business

Formally indicates the end of a business or service.

wind down business

Describes the gradual process of ending a business's operations.

pull down the shutters

Idiomatic, emphasizing the physical act of closing a shop, often permanently.

cease operations

A more formal way to say that a business has stopped running.

discontinue activity

Broader, referring to stopping any kind of activity, not just business.

halt proceedings

Suggests a temporary or permanent stop to ongoing events or processes.

bring things to a close

Implies finishing a task, project or undertaking.

FAQs

How can I use "close up shop" in a sentence?

You can use "close up shop" to indicate that a business is shutting down or an activity is coming to an end. For example, "After years of struggling, they decided to close up shop."

What's a more formal alternative to "close up shop"?

More formal alternatives to "close up shop" include "shut down operations" or "cease operations", suitable for business or official contexts.

Is "close up shop" appropriate for temporary closures?

No, "close up shop" typically implies a permanent cessation. For temporary closures, use phrases like "temporarily closed" or "undergoing renovations".

What does it mean to "close up shop" in a non-business context?

Even if not strictly related to businesses, the meaning of "close up shop" can be extended to mean stopping or discontinuing any activity. For example, "It's time to close up shop on this project and move on to the next."