hush up

USAGE SUMMARY

"Hush up" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is a colloquial expression meaning to be quiet or silent. It is typically used as an imperative. Example: "Hush up! I need to concentrate on this math problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Hush up, Nature Boy," she says.

The New York Times

Online, though, the audience won't hush up.

The New Yorker

People hush up when they stand before my paintings.

The New Yorker

"They should hush up," Ms Voevchik says with a sigh.

The Economist

There was no way to hush up the affair.

The Economist

But don't worry, pipe down, hush up, get a grip, calm down dear.

Independent

They have also been obtained by companies hoping to hush up damaging accusations.

The New York Times

He tried to hush up noise and looked anxiously toward guard.

The New Yorker

Tells about tactics practiced by SYDA used to hush up members.

The New Yorker

Tom Vilsack: "The U.S.D.A. didn't hush up an Iowa State University study on crop rotation".

The New York Times

He was on the West Coast, not to sell elevators, but to hush up scandals.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hush up" to tell someone to be quiet, especially when they are being disruptive or revealing information that should be kept secret.

Common error

Avoid using "hush up" in professional or formal contexts. It is generally considered informal and can come across as rude or disrespectful. Opt for more polite alternatives like "please be quiet" or "please refrain from discussing this further".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hush up" functions primarily as an imperative, a direct command or order. As noted by Ludwig AI, it instructs someone to be quiet or silent. This is evident in examples where it's used to stop someone from making noise or revealing secrets.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hush up" is an imperative phrase used to command silence or secrecy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used in English. With high usage in news and media, it’s most suitable for informal settings, and less so for formal or professional communication. For alternative phrases, consider options such as "be quiet" or "keep silent", depending on the situation. While "hush up" is a very common expression, remember that it may not be suitable for all situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be quiet

A general and straightforward request for silence.

quiet down

Suggests reducing noise levels, rather than complete silence.

keep silent

Emphasizes maintaining silence, often about a particular matter.

keep mum

Means to keep something secret or to remain silent about it.

fall silent

Suggests a sudden cessation of noise or speech.

pipe down

An informal command to be quiet, often used when someone is being disruptive.

clam up

Implies a reluctance to speak, often due to fear or stubbornness.

button your lip

A more colorful and informal way to tell someone to be quiet.

hold your tongue

Suggests refraining from saying something that might be better left unsaid.

shut your mouth

A rude and direct command to be quiet.

FAQs

How can I use "hush up" in a sentence?

"Hush up" is typically used as an imperative, meaning it is a direct command. For example, you could say, "Hush up! I'm trying to concentrate".

What's the difference between "hush up" and "be quiet"?

"Hush up" is more informal and can sometimes be perceived as ruder than "be quiet". "Be quiet" is generally acceptable in a wider range of situations.

What can I say instead of "hush up" in a formal setting?

In more formal situations, use alternatives such as "please be silent", "please refrain from speaking", or simply "quiet please".

When is it appropriate to use "hush up"?

It's appropriate to use "hush up" in informal settings, such as among friends or family, when you need someone to be quiet, or when discussing a sensitive topic that you want to keep secret.