No great shakes

No great shakes
Shake Shake, n. 1. The act or result of shaking; a vacillating or wavering motion; a rapid motion one way and other; a trembling, quaking, or shivering; agitation. [1913 Webster]

The great soldier's honor was composed Of thicker stuff, which could endure a shake. --Herbert. [1913 Webster]

Our salutations were very hearty on both sides, consisting of many kind shakes of the hand. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

2. A fissure or crack in timber, caused by its being dried too suddenly. --Gwilt. [1913 Webster]

3. A fissure in rock or earth. [1913 Webster]

4. (Mus.) A rapid alternation of a principal tone with another represented on the next degree of the staff above or below it; a trill. [1913 Webster]

5. (Naut.) One of the staves of a hogshead or barrel taken apart. --Totten. [1913 Webster]

6. A shook of staves and headings. --Knight. [1913 Webster]

7. (Zo["o]l.) The redshank; -- so called from the nodding of its head while on the ground. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]

{No great shakes}, of no great importance. [Slang] --Byron.

{The shakes}, the fever and ague. [Colloq. U.S.] [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • great shakes — ● shake …   Useful english dictionary

  • great shakes — See no great shakes …   English idioms

  • no great shakes — (informal) NOT VERY GOOD, unexceptional, unmemorable, forgettable, uninspired, uninteresting, indifferent, unimpressive, lacklustre; informal nothing to write home about, nothing special, not up to much. → shake * * * no great shakes (informal)… …   Useful english dictionary

  • no great shakes — {adj.}, {informal} Mediocre; unimportant. * /Joe Wilson is no great shakes./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • no great shakes — {adj.}, {informal} Mediocre; unimportant. * /Joe Wilson is no great shakes./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • no great shakes —    If someone is no great shakes at something, they are not very good at it.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    To say that someone or something is no great shakes means that they are useless, ineffective or not very good.     He s a good… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • no great shakes — If someone is no great shakes at something, they are not very good at it …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • no great shakes — phr. someone or something not very good. (There is no affirmative version of this.) □ Your idea is no great shakes, but we’ll try it anyway. □ Ted is no great shakes when it comes to brains …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • no great shakes — adjective Unexceptional; not special or noteworthy; not very effective. Youre welcome to stay here, but this hut aint no great shakes for such as you …   Wiktionary

  • no\ great\ shakes — adj informal Mediocre; unimportant. Joe Wilson is no great shakes …   Словарь американских идиом

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