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Glite Dictionary
to shake like a leaf

to shake like a leaf

3 4.6
To tremble a lot because you are afraid, nervous, or cold
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : temblar como una hoja
  • She was shaking like a leaf.

I was shaking like a leaf and I spoke there.

Examples

Synonyms

to tremble
vsto shake like a leaf
164 2.5

To shake slightly without control because of fear, cold, or worry

is stronger and longer lasting than a small involuntary movement
to shiver
vsto shake like a leaf
115 1.2

To shake slightly because of cold, fear or excitement

is a much bigger and more noticeable body quiver from fear or cold
to shudder
vsto shake like a leaf
85 3.7

To shake suddenly because you feel cold, afraid, or very upset

is a more continuous and larger body quiver rather than a sudden jolt
to waver
vsto shake like a leaf
12 4.8

To move or shake in a slight, unsteady way

is specifically about strong bodily quivering due to fear or cold
to jitter
vsto shake like a leaf
2 4.6

To shake or move quickly because you are nervous

is steadier and larger in its body quiver caused by fear or cold
to quake at
vsto shake like a leaf
1 7.4

To tremble because you are afraid

is a much longer and stronger body quiver from fear or cold
to quake in one's boots
vsto shake like a leaf
  • Informal
8.9

To feel very frightened and shake with fear

describes intense fear that also causes a strong physical quiver

Antonyms

calm
735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

steady
186 1.3

Firm and unlikely to be moved or upset

How Shaky

to quake
8 4.2
to shake like a leaf
  • Informal
3 4.6
tremble
23 2.7
to quiver
47 4.5
to shiver
115 1.2

Surface Forms

shake like a leaf infinitive
shaking like a leaf present participle
shakes like a leaf third person singular
shook like a leaf past
shaken like a leaf past participle

Morphology

shake + like + a + leaf

This is a straightforward simile: combining 'shake' with 'like a leaf' transparently compares human trembling to the obvious movement of a leaf, so a learner who knows the words will infer 'tremble a lot.' The compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically and readily evokes causes like fear or cold, making the meaning immediately derivable.

Etymology

Shake like a leaf comes from the image of a small leaf trembling in the wind. Because a leaf is light and moves easily, to shake like a leaf came to mean 'to tremble or shake a lot because of fear, anxiety, or cold'.