a shake of the head
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
An indication of refusal, disapproval, annoyance, etc. I'll do it in a brace of shakes. Instantly, as soon as you can shake the dice-box twice.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “a shake of the head” mean?
An indication of refusal, disapproval, annoyance, etc. I'll do it in a brace of shakes. Instantly, as soon as you can shake the dice-box twice.
Is “a shake of the head” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.