A shrug is a form of nonverbal communication

Nonverbal communication

Nonverbal communication is usually understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless messages. Messages can be communicated through gestures and touch , by body language or posture, by facial expression and eye contact...

 that is performed by lifting both shoulders up, and is an indication of an individual either not knowing an answer to a question, or not caring about a result. It can also be used when someone is simply ignoring the person's question. It may be accentuated with raised eyebrows and/or an exaggerated frown. It is very common in Western culture

Western culture

Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...

, rather than saying "I don't know", they would simply perform a shrug. In the English-speaking world it may be accompanied by a three syllable grunt or hummed mumble mimicking the intonation of "I dunno". The shrug is relatively absent from Eastern culture.

This gesture is often accompanied by raised palms, as shown in the illustration.

See also

• Indifference (emotion)
• Meh
  Meh
  "Meh" is an interjection, often used as an expression of indifference or boredom. However, it can also be used to indicate agreement or disagreement. It can also be as a verb, and an adjective, meaning mediocre or boring.-Popularization:The word gained popularity as a result of its use on The...
  
  
• Shoulder shrug
  Shoulder shrug
  The shoulder shrug is an exercise in weight training used to develop the upper trapezius muscle.- Form and execution :...
  
  , a weight training
  Weight training
  Weight training is a common type of strength training for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. It uses the weight force of gravity to oppose the force generated by muscle through concentric or eccentric contraction...
  
   exercise
• Shrug (band)
  Shrug (band)
  Untitled demo 1 Untitled demo 2 -Band members:* Gary Lightbody - lead vocals, guitar* Michael Morrison - drums* Mark McClelland - bass guitar...
  
  , a band that later became Snow Patrol
  Snow Patrol
  Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...
  
  
• Shrug (clothing)
  Shrug (clothing)
  A shrug is a cropped, cardigan-like garment with short or long sleeves, typically knitted. Generally, a shrug covers less of the body than a vest would, but it is more tailored than a shawl. Shrugs are typically worn as the outermost layer of an outfit, with a full shirt, tank top, or dress...
  
  , an article of clothing
• Shrugging can refer to throwing off a burden, including in the metaphorical sense, as in going on strike
  Strike action
  Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
  
  , as found in Ayn Rand
  Ayn Rand
  Ayn Rand was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter. She is known for her two best-selling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged and for developing a philosophical system she called Objectivism....
  
  's novel Atlas Shrugged
  Atlas Shrugged
  Atlas Shrugged is a novel by Ayn Rand, first published in 1957 in the United States. Rand's fourth and last novel, it was also her longest, and the one she considered to be her magnum opus in the realm of fiction writing...