Mastering Phrasal Verbs: Exploring the Various Meanings of “Shake”

Phrasal Verbs with Shake in English

Phrasal verbs are an essential part of the English language, and they can be tricky to learn. One such phrasal verb is “shake” [ʃeɪk]  – is an irregular verb.

InfinitivePast SimplePast Participle
to shakeshookshaken

Basic phrasal verbs with Shake

In this article, we’ll explore the various meanings of the phrasal verb “shake” and provide some examples of how to use it in context.

  • Shake off – The phrasal verb ‘shake off’ means to get rid of something or someone that is unwanted
    • I had to shake off the salesman who was trying to sell me something I didn’t want
    • I can’t seem to shake off this cold
  • Shake up – To ‘shake up’ means to disturb or upset someone or something
    • The unexpected news shook up the entire team
    • She was really shaken up by the accident
    • That lazy boy needs shaking up
    • The new CEO shook up management at my company, and a lot of people lost their jobs or were transferred
  • Shake out The phrasal verb ‘shake out’ means to separate or sort out
    • We need to shake out the good apples from the bad ones
    • Turning his trousers upside down, she shook out a lot of coins
  • Shake downTo ‘shake down’ means to intimidate or extort money from someone
    • The gangsters shook down the local shopkeepers for protection money
  • Shake on – The phrasal verb ‘shake on’ means to agree or confirm something through a handshake
    • We shook on the deal, and it was done
  • Shake apart – To ‘shake apart’ means to cause something to come apart or break into pieces
    • The earthquake shook apart the buildings
  • Shake out of – The phrasal verb ‘shake out of’ means to force someone or something out of a place
    • The dog shook the bone out of the bushes
  • Shake down to – To ‘shake down to’ means to reduce something to its most basic or fundamental form
    • The argument shakes down to a simple matter of trust
  • Shake up with – The phrasal verb ‘shake up with’ means to associate or form a partnership with someone or something
    • He shook up with his former competitor to form a new company

In conclusion, learning phrasal verbs like “shake” can be daunting, but with practice, it can become second nature. By understanding the different meanings and contexts of each phrasal verb, you can communicate more effectively in English. Keep practicing and incorporating these phrasal verbs into your daily conversations to enhance your English language skills.

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