ʃeɪk ə leɡ
Body Parts
informal
beginner
- Literally:
- Moving one's leg
What does "shake a leg" mean?
- To hurry up
- To start moving or get going
Examples
- Shake a leg or we'll be late!
- Come on, shake a leg!
- We need to shake a leg if we want to catch the train.
Origin
Possibly from dancing (shaking a leg on the dance floor) or from waking someone by shaking their leg. American slang from the 1900s.
How to use it
Casual and friendly way to urge someone to hurry. Can sound bossy if tone is wrong.
Similar expressions
hurry up
get moving
step on it
get a move on
Opposites
take your time
slow down
dawdle
Related idioms
- keep an eye on
To watch or monitor something carefully
- heart of gold
A very kind, generous, and caring nature
- caught red-handed
Caught in the act of doing something wrong
- keep your chin up
To stay positive and not be discouraged
- wrap your head around something
To understand something complex
- all ears
Listening attentively and eagerly
Use it in a practice answer
Try "shake a leg" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.