Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - shake

~1 past tense shook past participle shaken v 1 »MOVEMENT« to move up and down or from side to side with quick repeated movements  (His hand shook as he signed the paper. | The ground was shaking beneath their feet. | shake with anger/fear/laughter etc (=be so angry, frightened etc that you cannot stop shaking) | shake like a leaf (=shake a lot, especially because you are very nervous or frightened))  (What's the matter? You're shaking like a leaf.) 2 »SHAKE STH« to make something or someone move up and down or from side to side with quick repeated movements  (The blast shook windows five miles away. | shake sth onto/out/over etc)  (Shake the sand out of your shoes.) 3 »SHAKE SB« to hold someone by their shoulders and push and pull them backwards and forwards roughly, especially because you are angry with them  (She was being such a brat, I felt like shaking her.) 4 shake your head to move your head from side to side as a way of saying no  (He didn't reply, but just shook his head.) 5 shake hands (with) also shake sb's hand/shake sb by the hand to move someone's hand up and down with your own hand as a greeting or as a sign you have agreed something  (Wilkinson shook my hand warmly.) 6 shake on it spoken to agree on a decision or business agreement by shaking hands  (Let's shake on it.) 7 be shaken to feel very shocked and upset  (Kerrie was so shaken by the attack that she still won't go out alone.) 8 shake sb's confidence/faith/belief to make someone feel less confident, less sure about their beliefs etc 9 shake your fist to show that you are angry by holding up and shaking your tightly closed hand 10 »VOICE« if your voice shakes it sounds nervous or uncertain  (Reg's voice shook with rage.) 11 shake a leg spoken used to tell someone to start doing something now  (C'mon you guys, shake a leg! We haven't got all day.) 12 shake in your shoes/boots informal to be very nervous  (I was shaking in my shoes - I thought he'd give me the sack.) shake down phr v 1 BrE informal to get used to a new situation that you are working or living in 2 T shake someone down) AmE informal to get money from someone by using threats 3 T shake someone/something down) AmE informal to search a person or place thoroughly 4 T shake something down) BrE to test a ship or plane under real conditions  (- see shakedown) 5 I + in/on etc BrE informal to sleep on the floor, on a seat etc, instead of in a proper bed shake sb off phr v 1 T shake something off) to get rid of an illness, problem etc  (I can't seem to shake off this cold.) 2 to escape from someone who is chasing you shake sth out phr v to shake a cloth, a bag, a sheet etc so that any small pieces of dirt, dust etc come off  (Shake the crumbs out of the tablecloth.) shake sb/sth up phr v 1 T shake someone up) to give someone a very unpleasant shock, so that they feel very upset and frightened  (Seeing that accident really shook me up.)  (- see also shaken) 2 to make changes to an organization in order to make it more effective  (- see also shakeup) ~2 n 1 an act of shaking  (give sth a shake)  (Give the bottle a good shake before you pour. | shake of the head (=a movement of the head from side to side to say no))  (She just refuses with a smile and a shake of the head.) 2 the shakes not technical nervous shaking of your body caused by illness, fear, too much alcohol etc  (get the shakes)  (As soon as they left I started getting the shakes.) 3 in a couple of shakes/two shakes informal very soon  (We'll be back in a couple of shakes.) 4 no great shakes spoken not very skilful  (He's no great shakes, but he's better that the last chef they had.) 5 AmE a cold drink made from milk that tastes of fruit, chocolate etc; milk shake 6 fair shake AmE informal fair treatment  (Dave didn't get his fair shake - everyone else had the chance of an interview.)