shake

Examples

• All

• It was the latest "soul shake."

  Fiction book (1990)

• Two big sins, if you ask me: self-pitying and not giving the other guy a fair shake.

  Fiction book (1992)

• You know, you could have just given me a shake.

  Switchback (1997)

• She mastered the shake on the flute, impressing everyone with her ability to alternate notes rapidly.

• The music teacher explained that a shake involves quickly alternating between a note and the one just above it.

Synonyms

T

trill

vsshake

• Specialized

1 7.4

A quick change between a note and the next note used to add to music

specifies alternation only with the semitone above

Idioms

S

to shake a leg

• Archaic

9 6.5

To hurry when someone tells you to

S

to shake like a leaf

• Informal

3 4.6

To tremble a lot because you are afraid, nervous, or cold

F

fair shake of the sauce bottle

• Australian

9.9

A fair chance to take part or succeed

G

to give one's head a shake

• Informal

8.6

Make yourself stop worrying and start thinking clearly

S

to shake the pagoda tree

• Informal

9.9

To make people react to show hidden problems

S

to shake the plum tree

8.7

To make ripe fruit or other things fall from a tree by moving its branches quickly

S

to shake off the dust from one's feet

• Literature

9.8

Leave a place after a bad experience and not return

Compounds

F

fair shake

• Informal

16 6.0

An equal chance to succeed and be treated the same as others

S

shake-up

15 4.3

A major change in how people run an organization

M

milk shake

1 1.0

A sweet cold drink you get by mixing milk with ice cream or fruit

Surface Forms

Etymology