shack up

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To live together, especially of an unmarried couple.

Register: colloquial

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

The only thing I want to do after the war is marry some girl who's got more money than I have and shack up with lots more pretty girls.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “shack up” mean?

To live together, especially of an unmarried couple.

Is “shack up” formal or informal?

shack up is generally colloquial.