clam
(klæm )
Word forms: clams , clamming , clammed
countable noun
Clams are a kind of shellfish which can be eaten.
Tip the clams into the pan and cover with the lid.
Phrasal verbs:
clam up
phrasal verb
If someone clams up, they stop talking, often because they are shy or to avoid giving away secrets. [informal]
As soon as I told her my name, she clammed up. [VERB PARTICLE]
Image of clam
© Jiang Zhongyan, Shutterstock
Idioms:
happy as a clam [mainly US]
very happy
Join the other kids. Do that, and before you know it you'll be happy as a clam.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
shut up like a clam
to become very quiet and withdrawn
When they are worried, they may well shut up like a clam, definitely not wanting to tell you what is wrong.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Translations:
Chinese: 蛤蜊
Japanese: 二枚貝