shake up
shake up
1. To shake something in order to mix up or loosen its contents. A noun or pronoun can be used between "shake" and "up." Make sure you shake up the carton of juice before you pour it out. It's easier to pour the ketchup if you shake the bottle up first.
2. To forcefully or drastically reorganize or rearrange something, as a group or organization. A noun or pronoun can be used between "shake" and "up." After the merger, the upper management of the company was completely shaken up. The scandal has really shaken things up within the department, with several members resigning or being fired.
3. To do something different from one's normal routine in order to make things feel new or interesting. A noun or pronoun can be used between "shake" and "up." I'm tired of getting Chinese food—let's shake things up and try that new Polynesian restaurant. It's important to shake up your day-to-day routine, or you may end up in a rut.
4. To make someone very upset; to frighten or shock someone. A noun or pronoun can be used between "shake" and "up." It seems like the car accident shook her up pretty badly. I was shaken up for most of the day after hearing about my grandfather's death.
See also: shake, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
shake someone or something up
to jostle or knock someone or something around; to toss someone or something back and forth. We rode over a rough road, and that shook us up. The accident shook up John quite a bit.
See also: shake, up
shake someone up
to shock or upset someone. The sight of the injured man shook me up. Your rude remark really shook up Tom.
See also: shake, up
shake something up
1. Lit. to shake a container to mix its contents together well. Please shake this up before using it. I shook up the medicine bottle like it says on the label.
2. Fig. to reorganize a group or organization, not always in a gentle way. The new manager shook the office up and made things run a lot better. The coach shook the team up before the last game and made them better organized.
See also: shake, up
shook up
upset; shocked. (See also all shook up.) Relax, man! Don't get shook up! I always get shook up when I see a bad accident.
See also: shook, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
shake up
1. Agitate in order to mix or loosen, as in This cough medicine needs to be thoroughly shaken up, or Please shake up these pillows.
2. Upset greatly, as in Even though no one was hurt, he was greatly shaken up by the accident. This usage alludes to being agitated like a liquid being shaken. Also see all shook up. [Late 1800s]
3. Subject to drastic rearrangement or reorganization, as in New management was bent on shaking up each division.
See also: shake, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
shake up
v.
1. To move something vigorously up and down or from side to side, as in mixing: I shook up the orange juice before I opened the carton. We shook the ingredients up and poured them into a bowl.
2. To upset someone by or as if by a physical jolt or shock: The accident really shook us up. The bad news shook up the whole family.
3. To subject something to a drastic rearrangement or reorganization: The new management intends to shake up the company. The CEO's new policies have really shaken things up around here—I now report to a new boss.
See also: shake, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
Shake it (up)!
exclam. Hurry!; Move faster! Get going, chum! Shake it up!
See also: shake
shook up
verbSee all shook up
See also: shook, up
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- Shake it up!
- shook up
- shake off
- shake a disease or illness off
- shake hands with the unemployed
- fluff up
- shake the lead out
- shake your booty
- shake (one's) booty
- shake a leg