roll up the sidewalks

roll up the sidewalks

English

Verb

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)

1. (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

This phrase is used especially when the speaker considers the routine closing of businesses to occur inconveniently early.