clam up

se taire, se murer dans le silence

Cesser brusquement de parler, souvent par nervosité ou parce qu’on ne veut pas répondre.

En anglais simple : You suddenly stop talking, often because you feel nervous or do not want to answer.

• He clammed up when I asked.
• The witness clammed up during the interview.
• Why do you clam up around strangers?

Synonymes : go quiet, fall silent

Contraires : speak up

Expressions courantes : clam up suddenly, clam up completely

devenir moite, rendre moite

Devenir légèrement humide et collant, de façon désagréable, ou rendre quelque chose ainsi.

En anglais simple : You become slightly wet and unpleasantly sticky, or make something feel that way.

• My hands began to clam up.
• The humid air clammed up his skin.
• Her palms clammed up with sweat before the speech.

Comment l'utiliser : clam something up (The damp heat clammed my skin up.)

Expressions courantes : clam up something, clam up with sweat