clam up

How To Use clam up In A Sentence

• Most innocent people, Stone knew, tended to blabber to the cops when questioned, not clam up. NEW YORK DEAD
•    Or: he'd take one look at the police, realize the jig was up and I was seriously not someone worth messing with, and he'd clam up, recede into his cowardice, and all-too-compliantly-and-deferentially slink out the door. A Bite-Sized Piece
• Most innocent people, Stone knew, tended to blabber to the cops when questioned, not clam up. NEW YORK DEAD
• Don't clam up: your bubbly personality no doubt helped you get here. Times, Sunday Times
• If you are interrogating someone, perhaps they will clam up about some interesting questions, but at least you can be precise about what you are asking.
• I was just beavering away finishing the rest of the songs and almost ignoring what was going on - I didn't want to think about it because I was worried that I'd get writer's block immediately and just clam up.
• This is not to say that you have to clam up totally about your accomplishments - no way!
• Anyone who questioned his actions was portrayed as unpatriotic, a threat that caused many people to clam up.
• If the environment's intimidating and suppressive, if it demeans, people tend to clam up.
• If you are interrogating someone, perhaps they will clam up about some interesting questions, but at least you can be precise about what you are asking.