English · Idiom Historical

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Preserved but no longer current.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.

Topics: Head Historical slang (1800s)

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.

👁 Views 0 today 0 past 7 days 0 this month 0 all time