close up shop

close up shop

To cease business operations for any length of time (often permanently). This phrase can be used to describe an enterprise or an employee. I loved that restaurant, so I'm very disappointed that it closed up shop. The owner always closes up shop for two weeks in the summer to accommodate her vacation. You need to close up shop and go home—your shift ended an hour ago.
See also: close, shop, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

close up shop

Fig. to quit working, for the day or forever. (Fixed order.) It's five o'clock. Time to close up shop. I can't make any money in this town. The time has come to close up shop and move to another town.
See also: close, shop, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • close down
  • close down and shut down
  • close its doors
  • hang up (one's) hat
  • cease fire
  • cease
  • cease and desist
  • desist
  • divided
  • a house divided
References in periodicals archive
As the clock ticks, you e-mail your project partner in Tokyo, who will continue working on the mold design after you close up shop for the night and then hand it back to you for the finishing touches when you return in the morning.
Mold designers put the web to work