If you shake something, you hold it and move it quickly backwards and forwards or up and down. You can also shake a person, for example, because you are angry with them or because you want them to wake up.

If you shake yourself or your body, you make a lot of quick, small, repeated movements without moving from the place where you are.

If you shake your head, you turn it from side to side in order to say 'no' or to show disbelief or sadness.

If you are shaking, or a part of your body is shaking, you are making quick, small movements that you cannot control, for example because you are cold or afraid.

If you have the shakes, your body is shaking a lot because you are afraid or ill, or because you have drunk too much alcohol.

If you shake your fist or an object such as a stick at someone, you wave it in the air in front of them because you are angry with them.

If a force shakes something, or if something shakes, it moves from side to side or up and down with quick, small, but sometimes violent movements.

To shake something into a certain place or state means to bring it into that place or state by moving it quickly up and down or from side to side.

If your voice is shaking, you cannot control it properly and it sounds very unsteady, for example because you are nervous or angry.

If an event or a piece of news shakes you, or shakes your confidence, it makes you feel upset and unable to think calmly.

If an event shakes a group of people or their beliefs, it causes great uncertainty and makes them question their beliefs.

If you shake someone out of an attitude or belief that you disapprove of, you cause them to change their attitude or belief to one that is more responsible or sensible.

A shake is the same as a milkshake .

If you do not get a fair shake, you are not given a reasonable opportunity to succeed or to achieve something.

If you say that someone or something is no great shakes, you mean that they are not very skilful or effective.

If you shake someone's hand or shake someone by the hand, you shake hands with them.

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 .