shake in one's shoes/boots, to
shake in one's boots
and quake in one's bootsFig. to be afraid; to shake from fear. I was shaking in my boots because I had to go see the manager for being late. Stop quaking in your boots, Bob. I'm not going to fire you.
See also: boot, shake
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
shake in one's shoes/boots, to
To be in a state of terror or extreme nervousness. This vivid image of trembling with fear has been around since about 1800. William Cobbett is recorded as having said it (Political Register, 1818): “This is quite enough to make Corruption and all her tribe shake in their shoes.” See also scared silly.
See also: shake, shoe
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- daisies
- daisy roots
- shake in (one's) boots
- shake in boots
- be shaking in (one's) boots
- quake in (one's) boots
- quake in one's boots
- quaking/shaking in your boots/shoes
- spur on