roll up the sidewalks
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English[edit]
Verb[edit]
roll up the sidewalks (third-person singular simple present rolls up the sidewalks, present participle rolling up the sidewalks, simple past and past participle rolled up the sidewalks)
- (US) To close all commercial businesses for the day.
- 2012, Dean Koontz, The Key to Midnight: A gripping thriller of heart-stopping suspense, →ISBN:
- 'Japanese nightlife can be frantic,' Joanna said, 'but they start to roll up the sidewalks early by Western standards.'
- 2012, Jacqueline Rhoades, The Alpha's Mate, →ISBN:
- “No night life, I'm afraid,” he'd told her, “They roll up the sidewalks at 8 PM."
- 2016, Lon R. Maisttison, The Saga of Global Rescuer, →ISBN, page 177:
- But, remember in Harrogate, they roll up the sidewalks at 6:00 PM, except Thursdays.
Usage notes[edit]
This phrase is used especially when the speaker considers the routine closing of businesses to occur inconveniently early.