clam up

US /klæm ʌp/
UK /klæm ʌp/
"clam up" picture
1.

dichtmachen, schweigen

to suddenly stop talking, especially when you are expected to speak

:
When the police started asking questions, he just clammed up.
Als die Polizei anfing, Fragen zu stellen, schwieg er einfach.
She tends to clam up when she's nervous.
Sie neigt dazu, dichtzumachen, wenn sie nervös ist.