put up the shutters

verb

To bat defensively in the last innings of a match in order to force a draw when winning is not possible.

Similar
close up shopshut up shop
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Meanings

verbput up the shutters (third-person singular simple present puts up the shutters, present participle putting up the shutters, simple past and past participle put up the shutters)

present singular third person puts up the shutters · participle present putting up the shutters

  1. ball gamesTo bat defensively in the last innings of a match in order to force a draw when winning is not possible.
  2. figurativelyTo close, either at the end of the day or permanently.

    Synonyms: close up shop, shut up shop

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo close, either at the end of the day or permanently.

Similar
close up shopshut up shop
Also see
close up shop
Cite this entry
APA

put up the shutters. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/put%20up%20the%20shutters

MLA

“put up the shutters.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/put%20up%20the%20shutters. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “put up the shutters,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/put%20up%20the%20shutters.

Source: put up the shutters on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.