shake a leg
Meaning
Hurry up; move faster, often as a prompt to get going.
Origin
Recorded from the 19th century, especially in nautical/military contexts as a brisk command to get out of bed or get moving. The exact origin is uncertain; one theory links it to sailors revealing a leg from a hammock to show they were awake/alive.
Notes
Informal and often bossy; used to prompt someone to hurry or get started. Can sound rude with strangers or superiors.
Examples
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Come on, shake a leg—we're going to miss the train.
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If you want to get a good seat, you'd better shake a leg.
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Shake a leg and finish your breakfast; the bus will be here any minute.
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We need to shake a leg if we're going to meet the deadline.
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Shake a leg, everyone—practice starts in five minutes.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as an imperative: “Shake a leg!” or “Come on, shake a leg.” It’s fairly fixed; not commonly used in other tenses (e.g., *I shook a leg*) except jokingly.
Synonyms
- hurry up
- get a move on
- step on it
- make haste
Antonyms
- take your time
- slow down