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Shrug vs Shirk - What's the difference?

shrug | shirk |

As nouns the difference between shrug and shirk

is that shrug is a lifting of the shoulders to signal indifference while shirk is one who shirks or shirk can be (islam) the unforgivable sin of idolatry.

As verbs the difference between shrug and shirk

is that shrug is (ambitransitive) to raise (the shoulders) to express uncertainty, lack of concern, (formerly) dread, etc while shirk is to avoid, especially a duty, responsibility, etc; to stay away from.

shrug

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A lifting of the shoulders to signal indifference.
  • He dismissed my comment with a shrug .
  • A cropped, cardigan-like garment with short or long sleeves, typically knitted.
  • Verb

    (shrugg)
  • (ambitransitive) To raise (the shoulders) to express uncertainty, lack of concern, (formerly) dread, etc.
  • ''I asked him for an answer and he just shrugged .
    When he saw the problem, he just shrugged and started fixing it.
  • * Addison
  • He shrugs his shoulders when you talk of securities.

    shirk

    English

    Etymology 1

    First attested use in 1625 – 1635, apparently from association with shark (verb form), or from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To avoid, especially a duty, responsibility, etc.; to stay away from.
  • * Hare
  • the usual makeshift by which they try to shirk difficulties
  • To evade an obligation; to avoid the performance of duty, as by running away.
  • If you have a job, don't shirk from it by staying off work.
  • * Byron
  • One of the cities shirked from the league.
  • To procure by petty fraud and trickery; to obtain by mean solicitation.
  • * Bishop Rainbow
  • You that never heard the call of any vocation, that shirk living from others, but time from yourselves.
    Synonyms
    * blow off (US) * goldbrick (dated)
    See also
    * malinger

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • one who shirks
  • Etymology 2

    (etyl) (širk , "idolatry").

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Islam) the unforgivable sin of idolatry
  • References

    English heteronyms