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Wink vs Shrug - What's the difference?

wink | shrug |

As nouns the difference between wink and shrug

is that wink is sign while shrug is a lifting of the shoulders to signal indifference.

As a verb shrug is

(ambitransitive) to raise (the shoulders) to express uncertainty, lack of concern, (formerly) dread, etc.

wink

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (obsolete) To close one's eyes.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I will wink , so shall the day seem night.
  • * Tillotson
    • They are not blind, but they wink .
  • (archaic) To turn a blind eye.
  • *, New York Review of Books, 2001, p.51:
    • Some trot about to bear false witness, and say anything for money; and though judges know of it, yet for a bribe they wink at it, and suffer false contracts to prevail against equity.
  • * Herbert
    • And yet, as though he knew it not, / His knowledge winks , and lets his humours reign.
  • * John Locke
    • Obstinacy can not be winked at, but must be subdued.
  • (intransitive) To blink with only one eye as a message, signal, or suggestion.
    • He winked at me.
    She winked her eye.
  • To twinkle.
  • To be dim and flicker.
    • The light winks .
  • To send an indication of agreement by winking.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act of winking (a blinking of only one eye), or a message sent by winking.
  • A brief time; an instant.
  • A brief period of sleep; especially forty winks.
  • * 1919 ,
    • I couldn't bear to leave him where he is. I shouldn't sleep a wink for thinking of him.
  • A disc used in the game of tiddlywinks.

    • Derived terms

    * nudge nudge wink wink * wink murder

    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.