shake your head

shake (one's) head

1. Literally, to rotate one's head back and forth (to the left and to the right) to indicate a negative response, disagreement, or disapproval. When I asked the little girl if she knew where her mommy was, she just shook her head. I see you back there shaking your head no. Is there something you disagree with?
2. To express confusion or bewilderment about something that has just happened or been revealed. This usage does not always indicate a literal movement of the head. When he abruptly exited the meeting without explanation, we all just sat there shaking our heads. Just shaking my head right now. What was that all about?
See also: head, shake
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

shake your ˈhead

move your head from side to side as a way of saying ‘no’, or to show sadness, disagreement, disapproval, etc: She didn’t say anything — she just shook her head and sighed.
See also: head, shake
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • shake (one's) head
  • shake one's head
  • shake (one's) head no
  • vote with (one's) feet
  • vote with feet
  • vote with one’s feet
  • vote with one's feet
  • vote with your feet
  • in (one's) bad graces
  • in someone's bad graces
References in periodicals archive
Summary: a look back at some of the recent news related to money that made you laugh, gasp, sigh, or shake your head in disbelief..
THAT'S A WRAP
Mrs Carins, a parish councillor who lives at Station Road in Stannington, accused long-serving Ponteland councillor Harrington of saying "You're talking balderdash woman, you are really talking balderdash" and also saying "do not shake your head at me woman".
Balderdash jibe councillor did not 'lack respect'
Nealn Nikki (12A): This is the kind of movie that you see (if you're unlucky) and shake your head, wondering how it ever got made.
ALSO SHOWING AT STARCITY
Slowly shake your head back and forth and give the gap a look that says, "I've got this." If you have a friend filming you this is a perfect time to look at him, raise your finger and say "one more" (it also helps to think in slow motion).
Trendy trick tip: "the J.T. to later"
Don't shake your head, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Bill Borrows; `Why not just borrow one of those "GOLF SALE" signs that hapless berks are often seen holding up on the high street and paint the words "FAT LEGS" on both sides'
I suspect most of you just shake your heads in disbelief when you hear how deep the general hostility toward corporations is, assuming it will never affect your bottom line.
Is "corporation" a dirty word?