Definition of hush up

The expression "hush up" is a theoretical compound word that has been in use since the late 19th century. Its origin can be traced back to the separation of two words, "hush" and "up", that have been in use since the early 17th century. The word "hush" originally meant "to make a soothing or quiet sound" but later came to mean "to be quiet" or "to stop making noise". Its origins are uncertain, but some historians believe it may have derived from the Middle English word "housen", meaning "to hush a child" or from the Old English word "hǣšan", which meant "to calm". The verb "up" is an old English particle that is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "uppan", meaning "upwards". Originally, it was used to indicate motion or direction, but it eventually became used to signify intensity or emphasis in specific expressions. In the case of "hush up", the verb "up" is believed to have taken on a new, metaphorical meaning, specifically denoting the act of urgently bringing something quickly to an end or conclusion. This metaphorical meaning is similar to other phrases that use the word "up", such as "sort out" or "clean up". In sum, "hush up" is a helpful phrase that is widely used in modern English, urging people to be silent and to quickly resolve an issue or problem. It is a compound word that combines the meaning of "hush" and "up", created in 19th century English as a spokesman’s alternate phrase for stopping discussion or communication concerning a matter.