Bajar la persiana

to close up shop; **to close up shop**; **to shut down**; **to call it a day**; **to wrap things up**; **to close the business**

Bajar la persiana means:

• to close a business (literally),
• to shut down,
• to call it a day,
• to bring something to an end, or
• to stop completely.

The figurative meaning is especially common.

• a shop closes for the day
• a company goes out of business
• someone decides to stop working
• an activity comes to an end
• someone mentally "switches off" after finishing work

The expression comes directly from Spanish shopfronts.

Most traditional shops are protected by a metal rolling shutter called a persiana.

Lowering it signals the end of business for the day.

Because the action is so familiar throughout Spain, it naturally became a metaphor for ending any activity or closing a business permanently.

The expression may refer either to:

• the daily closing of a shop,
• or the permanent closure of a business.

Context usually makes the meaning clear.

It is also commonly used humorously among friends or colleagues:

Ya bajamos la persiana.

meaning:

That's enough for today.

Spanish has several expressions related to ending work or business:

• Bajar la persiana → to close up shop; to call it a day.
• Echar el cierre → to close (especially a shop or business).
• Cerrar el chiringuito → to shut everything down (often humorous or informal).
• Dar por terminado → to bring something to an end.

Among them, bajar la persiana is the most widely used because virtually every Spaniard is familiar with the image of the metal shutter coming down at closing time.

Do not translate the expression literally.

English speakers would not normally say:

Let's lower the shutter.

Instead, use expressions such as:

• Let's call it a day.
• Let's wrap things up.
• The business shut down.
• They closed up shop.

Choose the translation according to the context.