shush it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shush it" is not standard in written English and may be considered informal or colloquial.
It can be used in casual conversations to ask someone to be quiet or to stop talking, but it is not appropriate for formal writing. Example: "During the movie, I had to tell my friend to shush it so we could enjoy the film."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The drummer Austin Youngblood had a cloth draped over his snare, as if to shush it, to prevent it from speaking too clearly.

The New York Times - Arts

She told him to shush it or they'd murder him for thinking such a thing, and anyhow they had to hurry home to start washing and ironing and packing his things.

The New Yorker

When they're like that, sometimes you can still steer 'em into an alley, make 'em settle for a soot-arse, but sometimes they just shakes you off 'alfway, really wild, and says "Why don't you solicit from your own kind?" I tell you, Shush, it really takes it out of you when they do that.

The Guardian - Books

(Recommended by games journalist Jem Alexander and video games PR Robbie Paterson, who doesn't work this game so shush it, you).

Vice

When my mind pipes up with "Caleb is still completely floored when he hears a lawnmower" I shush it and focus instead on the glowing family surrounding their amazing son.

Huffington Post

everyone shush "it's the great pumpkin charlie brown" is on and I need to watch it just one more time.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

This is tricky: giving the device the evil eye or shushing it, for instance, will not work.

The Economist

The Evangelist Christian right is at the heart of Harper's Conservative party, and after years of being shushed, it will now demand an end to a number of things, including abortion rights.

The Guardian - Opinion

Alternatively clicking and shushing, it sounded like he was playing Swahili.

Huffington Post

"We'll rally once again / Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom!" Ma shushes him — it's too martial a song for the girls, who are half-asleep, but "Laura felt that she must shout, too".

The New Yorker

They called it Shush and told the other children it was very valuable.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shush it" sparingly in informal conversations to tell someone to be quiet, but avoid it in formal writing or professional settings where it may be perceived as rude or dismissive.

Common error

Avoid using "shush it" in formal presentations or written reports. Opt for more professional alternatives like "please be quiet" or "silence is appreciated" to maintain a respectful tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shush it" functions as an imperative, directly instructing someone to be quiet. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's typically used in informal contexts to quickly and succinctly request silence. Examples show it used to quiet someone disrupting a performance or conversation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Huffington Post

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shush it" is an imperative used to tell someone to be quiet, most often encountered in informal settings. While Ludwig AI marks it as acceptable, it's important to note that it might not be suitable for professional or formal contexts. Alternatives like "be quiet" or "hush" may be more appropriate depending on the situation. The contexts in which "shush it" is used range from news articles to casual conversations, suggesting it is a familiar, though not overly formal, expression. When choosing between "shush it" and other options, consider the level of formality required for the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be quiet

This is a more direct and common way to ask someone to stop talking.

hush

A simple and classic way to tell someone to be quiet.

keep it down

Asks someone to lower their voice or reduce noise.

quiet please

A polite way to request silence.

pipe down

An informal term for asking someone to be quiet or less noisy.

silence

A more formal and abrupt command for quiet.

hold your tongue

Suggests someone should refrain from speaking, often in a reprimanding way.

give it a rest

Suggests someone should stop talking about a particular topic.

button it

A very informal and somewhat rude way of telling someone to be quiet.

clam up

Means to suddenly become silent, often implying reluctance.

FAQs

How can I use "shush it" in a sentence?

You can use "shush it" in informal settings to tell someone to be quiet. For example, "During the movie, I had to tell my friend to "shush it" so we could enjoy the film."

What can I say instead of "shush it"?

You can use alternatives like "be quiet", "hush", or "quiet please" depending on the context.

Is "shush it" appropriate in professional communication?

No, "shush it" is generally not appropriate for professional communication. It is better to use more formal phrases like "please be silent" or "could you please lower your voice?".

What is the difference between "shush it" and "be quiet"?

"Shush it" is a more informal and sometimes dismissive way of asking for silence, while "be quiet" is a more direct and neutral request.