肩かたをすくめる

expression, ichidan verb

shrug one's shoulders

A set phrase describing the physical gesture of raising and lowering the shoulders, often to express indifference, resignation, or uncertainty.

• 彼かれは質しつ問もんに答こたえず、ただ肩かたをすくめた。

  He didn't answer the question, just shrugged his shoulders.

• どうしようもなくて、肩かたをすくめるしかなかった。

  There was nothing I could do, so I could only shrug.