close up shop
idiom
: to go out of business forever or stop performing all services or activities for a period of time
Rather than closing up shop entirely, the company laid off half of its workers.
The restaurant has already closed up shop for the winter.
Examples of close up shop in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s a strong possibility neither will happen and POKS will close up shop, creating a void in the market that won’t be easily filled.
—
Mara Weinraub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
California made national headlines when two large Pizza Hut franchises laid off more than 1,200 in-house delivery drivers to cut costs, while others, such as Mod Pizza and Foster’s Freeze, decided to close up shop entirely.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2025
Some business owners have said on social media they will be forced to close up shop.
—Brian Cheung, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2025
Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for close up shop
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Mara Weinraub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025
California made national headlines when two large Pizza Hut franchises laid off more than 1,200 in-house delivery drivers to cut costs, while others, such as Mod Pizza and Foster’s Freeze, decided to close up shop entirely.
—Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2025
Some business owners have said on social media they will be forced to close up shop.
—Brian Cheung, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2025
Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for close up shop
Cite this Entry
“Close up shop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close%20up%20shop. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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