shake up
To upset or distress (a person).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The sudden news really shook me up.”
“The car accident was minor, but it still shook him up for the rest of the day.”
“Witnessing such a violent confrontation in the quiet street shook up the neighbors, leaving them feeling vulnerable and anxious for several days afterward.”
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brace of shakes
A very short time.
- 02
fair shake
Reasonable, unbiased treatment; a fair deal.
- 03
give one's head a shake
To reassess the common sense of one's behaviour, ideas, etc.
- 04
more than you can shake a stick at
Alternative form of more than one can shake a stick at.
- 05
no great shakes
Something unexceptional, not noteworthy or special.
- 06
shake a leg
To get busy; to get going; to be productive.
- 07
shake a stick at
Disparage; rail against.
- 08
shake like a leaf
To tremble, as with fear, cold, etc.; to shiver.
Last updated August 10, 2026