Slang to avoid or get rid of an undesirable person (or thing)
no great shakes
Informal not of outstanding ability, importance, etc.; ordinary
shake down
to bring down or cause to fall by shaking
to cause to settle by shaking
to test or condition (new equipment, etc.)
â Slang to extort money from, as by blackmail
shake hands
to clasp each other's hand as a token of agreement or friendship, or in parting or greeting
shake off
to get away from or rid of (an undesirable person or thing)
to reject (a suggestion, request, etc.)
shake up
to shake, esp. so as to mix, blend, or loosen
to disturb or rouse by or as by shaking
to jar or shock
to redistribute or reorganize by or as by shaking
See shake in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Idioms
shake (another's) tree
Slang
To arouse to action or reaction; disturb: “[He] so shook Hollywood's tree that . . . all manner of . . . people called me unsolicited to itemize his mistakes or praise his courage”(Tina Brown).
shake a stick at
Slang
To point out, designate, or name: “All of a sudden there came into being a vast conservative infrastructure: think-tanks . . . and more foundations than you could shake a stick at”(National Review).
give (someone) the shake
Slang
To escape from or get rid of: We managed to give our pursuers the shake.
no great shakes
Slang
Unexceptional; ordinary: “stepping in between the victim and the bully, even when the victim happens to be no great shakes”(Louis Auchincloss).