ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shake a leg

idiom
Meaning

To get busy; to get going; to be productive.


Examples
SIMPLE

Shake a leg, or we will be late for the movie.

CONTEXTUAL

We need to shake a leg if we want to finish this project before the office closes today.

COMPLEX

The manager urged the team to shake a leg, noting that the deadline was approaching far faster than anyone had anticipated.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    an arm and a leg

    Usually used after the verb cost, but also often charge, pay, and spend: a very high price for an item or service; an exorbitant price

  2. 02

    brace of shakes

    A very short time.

  3. 03

    break a leg

    Good luck!; Do your best!; Said to someone wishing they perform well in a theatrical production or comparable endeavor.

  4. 04

    fair shake

    Reasonable, unbiased treatment; a fair deal.

  5. 05

    get a leg up

    To get a boost or a lift.

  6. 06

    give one's head a shake

    To reassess the common sense of one's behaviour, ideas, etc.

  7. 07

    hang a leg

    To hesitate; to hang back.

  8. 08

    make a leg

    To make a deep bow with the right leg drawn back.

Last updated April 17, 2026