two shakes of a lamb's tail

shake

T t

Definitions of two shakes of a lamb's tail words

verb without object two shakes of a lamb's tail to move or sway with short, quick, irregular vibratory movements. 1
verb without object two shakes of a lamb's tail to tremble with emotion, cold, etc. 1
verb without object two shakes of a lamb's tail to become dislodged and fall (usually followed by off or down): Sand shakes off easily. 1
verb without object two shakes of a lamb's tail to move something, or its support or container, briskly to and fro or up and down, as in mixing: Shake before using. 1
verb without object two shakes of a lamb's tail to totter; become unsteady. 1
verb without object two shakes of a lamb's tail to clasp another's hand in greeting, agreement, congratulations, etc.: Let's shake and be friends again. 1

before 900

One of the 4% oldest English words

before 900; (v.) Middle English s(c)haken, Old English sceacan; cognate with Low German schacken, Old Norse skaka; (noun) derivative of the v.

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 96% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

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