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Glite Dictionary
to shake like a leaf

to shake like a leaf

2 4.6
To tremble a lot because you are afraid, nervous, or cold
  • idiom
  • Informal
: 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
144 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
103 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
71 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
18 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
3 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
2 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
680 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

steady
171 1.3

Firm and unlikely to be moved or upset

How Shaky

to quake
28 4.2
to shake like a leaf
  • Informal
2 4.6
tremble
6 2.7
to quiver
50 4.5
to shiver
103 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'.