close up a shop —(also: shut up a shop) close a shop securely before leaving (for the weekend, etc.):
- The shop was closed up for the night, so Kermit used his key and went up the back way.
close up shop —(also: shut up shop)
1. (of an office, firm, etc.) stop doing business for the day or more:
- The restaurant will not close up shop until 11 P.M. every night of the week.
2. go out of business:
- Mr. Lemoyne had reluctantly closed up shop when the library had reached a rock-bottom membership of eleven.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase closed shop—a plant or factory that employs only union workers:
- Under a closed shop agreement, non-union employees must join the union or face dismissal.