10 VERB If an event shakes a group of people or their beliefs, it causes great uncertainty and makes them question their beliefs. □ [V n] It won't shake the football world if we beat Torquay.
11 N‑COUNT A shake is the same as a milkshake . □ He sent his driver to fetch him a strawberry shake.
12 PHRASE If you say that someone or something is no great shakes , you mean that they are not very skilful or effective. [INFORMAL ] □ I'm no great shakes as a detective. □ The protests have failed partly because the opposition politicians are no great shakes.
13 PHRASE If you shake someone's hand or shake someone by the hand , you shake hands with them. □ I said congratulations and walked over to him and shook his hand.
14 PHRASE If you shake hands with someone, you take their right hand in your own for a few moments, often moving it up and down slightly, when you are saying hello or goodbye to them, congratulating them, or agreeing on something. You can also say that two people shake hands . □ [+ with ] He shook hands with his admirers as he made his way to the front.
15 to shake the foundations of something → see foundation
▸ shake down PHRASAL VERB If someone shakes you down , they use threats or search you physically in order to obtain something from you. [AM ] □ [V P n] Former police checkpoints on highways were being used to shake down motorists for bribes. [Also V n P ]
▸ shake off
1 PHRASAL VERB If you shake off something that you do not want such as an illness or a bad habit, you manage to recover from it or get rid of it. □ [V P n] Businessmen are trying to shake off habits learned under six decades of a protected economy. □ [V n P ] He was generally feeling bad. He just couldn't shake it off.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you shake off someone who is following you, you manage to get away from them, for example by running faster than them. □ [V n P ] I caught him a lap later, and although I could pass him I could not shake him off. □ [V P n] He was unaware that they had shaken off their pursuers.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you shake off someone who is touching you, you move your arm or body sharply so that they are no longer touching you. □ [V n P ] He grabbed my arm. I shook him off. □ [V P n] She shook off his restraining hand.
▸ shake out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you shake out a cloth or a piece of clothing, you hold it by one of its edges and move it up and down one or more times, in order to open it out, make it flat, or remove dust. □ [V P n] While the water was heating she decided to shake out the carpet. □ [V n P ] I took off my poncho, shook it out, and hung it on a peg.
2 → see also shake-out
▸ shake up
1 PHRASAL VERB If someone shakes up something such as an organization, an institution, or a profession, they make major changes to it. □ [V P n] The government wanted to reform the institutions, to shake up the country. □ [V n P ] Shareholders are preparing to shake things up in the boardrooms.
2 → see also shake-up
3 PHRASAL VERB If you are shaken up or shook up by an unpleasant experience, it makes you feel shocked and upset, and unable to think calmly or clearly. □ [be V -ed P ] The jockey was shaken up when he was thrown twice from his horse yesterday. □ [V n P ] He was in the car when those people died. That really shook him up. [Also V P n (not pron)]
shake|down /ʃe I kdaʊn/ (shakedowns )
1 N‑COUNT If an organization or system is given a shakedown , it is thoroughly reorganized in order to make it more efficient.
2 N‑COUNT A shakedown of a boat, plane, or car is its final test before it starts to be used.
shak|en /ʃe I kən/ Shaken is the past participle of shake .
sha ke-out (shake-outs ) in AM, use shakeout N‑COUNT [usu sing] A shake-out is a major set of changes in a system or an organization which results in a large number of companies closing or a large number of people losing their jobs. [JOURNALISM ] □ This should be the year of a big shake-out in Italian banking.
Shak|er /ʃe I kə r / (Shakers )
1 N‑COUNT A Shaker is a member of an American religious group whose members live in communities and have a very simple life.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Shaker furniture is usually made of wood and has a very simple design.
sha ke-up (shake-ups ) in AM, use shakeup N‑COUNT A shake-up is a major set of changes in an organization or a system. [JOURNALISM ] □ [+ of/in ] …a radical shake-up of the secondary education system.
shaky /ʃe I ki/ (shakier , shakiest )
1 ADJ If you describe a situation as shaky , you mean that it is weak or unstable, and seems unlikely to last long or be successful. □ A shaky ceasefire is holding after three days of fighting between rival groups. □ I'm afraid that this school year is off to a shaky start.
2 ADJ If your body or your voice is shaky , you cannot control it properly and it shakes, for example because you are ill or nervous. □ We have all had a shaky hand and a dry mouth before speaking in public.
shale /ʃe I l/ (shales ) N‑VAR Shale is smooth soft rock that breaks easily into thin layers.
sha le gas N‑UNCOUNT Shale gas is a natural gas that is removed from rock by forcing liquid and sand into the rock. □ This area has huge deposits of shale gas.
shall ◆◆◇ /ʃəl, STRONG ʃæl/ Shall is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb. 1 MODAL You use shall with 'I' and 'we' in questions in order to make offers or suggestions, or to ask for advice. □ Shall I get the keys? □ Shall I call her and ask her to come here? □ Well, shall we go? □ Let's have a nice little stroll, shall we? □ What shall I do?