# shake off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shake-off
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to get rid of something bad or annoying, like a cold or a bad mood. You use this when you want to stop something from affecting you.

For teachers: to rid oneself of an undesirable state, illness, or pursuer. Transitive and optionally separable; the object is typically a negative condition or a person following the subject.

## Examples

- I need to shake off this bad mood before the party starts.
- The runner tried to shake off his opponent in the final lap, but the other athlete stayed right behind him.
- The company struggled to shake off its reputation for poor customer service, even after hiring a new management team and overhauling its internal policies.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I shook off from my headache." but "I shook off my headache." — The verb is transitive and takes the object directly without the preposition 'from'.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is often used with illnesses, negative feelings, or people following you.
- Teaching tip: Use the Taylor Swift song 'Shake It Off' as a cultural anchor to demonstrate the meaning of ignoring criticism or bad vibes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.