shake

shake shake [ʆeɪk] verb shook _PASTTENSE [ʆʊk] shaken _PASTPART [ˈʆeɪkən]

[transitive] if something shakes people's confidence, hopes, belief etc, it makes them feel less confident, hopeful etc:

• Consumer confidence has been badly shaken by fears of another recession.

• A series of management changes has shaken staff morale.

shake down phrasal verb

1. [transitive] shake somebody → down informal to get money from someone, using threats:

• The former business agent was charged with shaking down contractors.

2. [intransitive] informal if a new situation or arrangement shakes down, people start to get used to it and it becomes more effective:

• The restructure has shaken down, and staff are showing a new sense of purpose.

shake out phrasal verb COMMERCE

1. [intransitive] if an organization or industry shakes out, it becomes calmer after a difficult period of time. In a market, this happens when weaker companies are forced out of business or bought by bigger companies, leaving fewer competitors:

• He will look for bargains in a year or two, after the real estate market shakes out.

2. [transitive] shake something → out to change a situation by removing things about it that are not useful or profitable:

• As the airline industry shakes out all but the very fittest, catering companies could face serious troubles.

shake something ↔ up phrasal verb [transitive]

to make changes in an organization or system to make it more successful, effective etc:

• They restructured organizations and introduced competition, to shake up monopolies perceived as inefficient and complacent.

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shake UK US /ʃeɪk/ verb [T]

► if something shakes someone's beliefs, hopes, etc., it destroys these feelings or makes them weaker: »

Shareholders' hopes of a quick profit have been badly shaken by recent events.

»

The credit crunch shook public confidence in the financial system.

● shake hands — Cf. shake hands

● shake hands on sth — Cf. shake hands on sth