shorten up

English

Verb

shorten up (third-person singular simple present shortens up, present participle shortening up, simple past and past participle shortened up)

1. (transitive, intransitive, informal) To make something shorter in height, briefer in duration or more close together.

   You have to shorten this movie up.

   Muscles that don't get exercise will shorten up.

   You can shrug by shortening up your shoulders and express anger or disgust by shortening up the upper lip.