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Region: General | Usage example: Shake a leg, or we'll miss the session.

Shake a leg

Meaning

Move quickly or hurry up.

Usage

Urgent command often issued informally.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Old nautical calls to get sailors moving.

Used in 19th-century maritime speech.

Related Idioms

Shake it off

Recover quickly from setbacks or criticism.

Duck and cover

React quickly to avoid danger.

Jump-start

Quickly kick off something, often a stalled effort.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.