profile/5683FB_IMG_16533107021641748.jpg

News_Naija

Five Other Ways To Say Shut Up

‘Shut’ can be described as a fertile verb based on the number of phrasal verbs it procreated. Among such are shut down, shut out, shut in and shut up. Of the four, ‘shut up’ is usually derogatory when directed at a person. It is thus not surprising that  hell broke loose between a former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili; and Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi last week when she asked him to ‘shut up’ during a Senate Committee hearing. As usual, we are not interested in the politics of the matter involved and the arguments the issue has ignited. We shall, however, take a deeper look at the phrasal verb in terms of its meanings and its synonyms that are not likely to generate anxiety. Between shut in and shut out Before breaking down ‘shut up’, we quickly define and exemplify the other expressions around ‘shut’. When you prevent some people from leaving a place, you shut them in. When  you stop them from entering, you shut them out. By shutting down a business or equipment, however, you make it stop operating. The following are examples from Cambridge Dictionary: The cat was shut in all night. The wind blew the door closed behind me and now I’m shut out (of the house). The company plans to shut down four factories and cut 10,000 jobs. Shut up? When you ask someone to shut up, you ask them to stop talking or making a noise. Of course, you too can deliberately shut up, in which case you choose not to say anything. It is, however, clear that when you tell a person so, you are ordering them to stop talking for whatever reason. The implication is that although ‘shut up’ is often a baby of anger or frustration (can also be that of arrogance), it is not an expression expected from a junior to a senior or the young to elders, just as it is not compliant  with formal situations. When there is cause to ask a fellow to stop talking, there is, therefore, the need to explore alternative expressions. Synonyms of ‘shut up’ ‘Shut up’ has a good number of synonyms. While some are as harsh as it is (keep mum, be silent, keep quiet, fall silent, hold your tongue, be still etc.) others are mild and less provocative. Examples of these are: excuse me, calm (down), cool (down) chill and pipe down. Of the five, ‘excuse me’ and ‘calm down’ are more suitable for formal situations: Excuse me, senator; allow me to talk. Calm down, senator. What you are saying is wrong.  Cool down, Linda;  you are embarrassing me. Pipe down, sister. You have said too much. Chill. It’s time to close the matter. Other meanings of shut up Another meaning of ‘shut up’ is to stop someone from talking about a particular subject or from complaining or asking for things: The kids kept saying how hungry they were, so their father gave them some biscuits to shut them up. It can also mean to close a shop or other business for a period of time, usually when business is finished for the day, as Cambridge Dictionary further explains: The battery seller had shut up when I got there.

profile/5377instablog.png.webp

Instablog9ja

My Mother Taught Me That My Money Is OUR Money Says Lady In An Open Letter To Her Future Husband

dataDp/1032.jpeg

Worldnews

Ugandas President Museveni Confirms Bid To Extend Nearly 40-year Rule

The 80-year-old leader pledges economic growth from today’s GDP of $66bn to $500bn within the next five years. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has confirmed he will contest next year’s presidential election, setting the stage for a potential extension of his nearly 40-year rule. The 80-year-old announced late on Saturday that he had expressed his interest “in running for … the position of presidential flag bearer” for his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. Museveni seized power in 1986 after a five-year civil war and has ruled ever since. The NRM has altered the constitution twice to remove term and age limits, clearing the way for Museveni to extend his tenure. Rights groups accused him of using security forces and state patronage to suppress dissent and entrench his power – claims he denies. Museveni said he seeks re-election to transform Uganda into a “$500bn economy in the next five years”. According to government data, the country’s current gross domestic product stands at just under $66bn. Ugandans are due to vote in January to choose a president and members of parliament. Opposition leader Bobi Wine, a pop star-turned-politician whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has confirmed he will run again. Wine rejected the 2021 results, alleging widespread fraud, ballot tampering and intimidation by security forces. Tensions have risen in recent months after parliament passed a law allowing military courts to try civilians, a practice the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional in January. The government insisted the change is necessary to tackle threats to national security, but rights organisations and opposition figures argued it is a tool to intimidate and silence critics. Uganda for years has used military courts to prosecute opposition politicians and government critics. In 2018, Wine was charged in a military court with illegal possession of firearms. The charges were later dropped. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticised Uganda’s military courts for failing to meet international standards of judicial independence and fairness. Oryem Nyeko, senior Africa researcher at HRW, said this year: “The Ugandan authorities have for years misused military courts to crack down on opponents and critics.” Follow Al Jazeera English:...

profile/5377instablog.png.webp

Instablog9ja

Former Minister Of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, Mourns The Passing Of His Aide, Who Tragically Slumped And Did In An Abuja Hotel After Spending Time With An Individual