shake off: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2 (Upper Intermediate)Informal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “shake off” mean?
To get rid of or free oneself from something unwanted, such as a physical or emotional condition, a pursuer, or a negative association.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To get rid of or free oneself from something unwanted, such as a physical or emotional condition, a pursuer, or a negative association.
The phrase can also mean to dismiss something mentally, overcome the effects of something (like an illness), or defeat an opponent (especially in sports).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The meaning and usage are almost identical. Slight collocational preferences exist.
Connotations
Both variants carry the same connotations of determined effort and successful removal.
Frequency
Slightly more common in sports contexts (e.g., 'shake off a defender') in UK English. Widely used in business and emotional contexts in both.
Grammar
How to Use “shake off” in a Sentence
shake off [OBJECT]shake [OBJECT] offshake off the feeling that...try to shake offVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shake off” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He couldn't shake off the feeling he was being watched.
- The winger managed to shake off his marker and score.
American English
- I need a vacation to shake off this stress.
- The quarterback shook off the tackle and completed the pass.
adjective
British English
- A shake-off motion was needed to dislodge the dirt.
- This is a great shake-off lotion for dry skin.
American English
- The pitcher's best pitch is his shake-off slider.
- She used a shake-off brush on the horse.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe overcoming setbacks or negative market perceptions. E.g., 'The company is trying to shake off its image of being old-fashioned.'
Academic
Less frequent; appears in historical/sociological texts regarding shedding traditions or influences.
Everyday
Very common for health (shake off a cold) and emotions (shake off a bad mood).
Technical
Used in sports analysis (football, basketball) and in physics/engineering contexts regarding dislodging particles or vibrations.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shake off”
- She tried to shake off *on* her fear. (INCORRECT) -> She tried to shake off her fear. (CORRECT)
- It took days to shake off *from* the flu. (INCORRECT) -> It took days to shake off the flu. (CORRECT)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it's a separable phrasal verb. You can say 'shake off a cold' or 'shake a cold off', though the former is more common.
'Shake off' often implies a more active, deliberate effort to be rid of something physical or clinging. 'Get over' is more passive and relates to recovering from emotional distress or illness over time.
It is generally neutral but leans informal. In formal business or academic writing, synonyms like 'rid oneself of', 'shed', or 'overcome' might be preferred.
Rarely, but it can exist in specific contexts, like in baseball for a pitcher's head movement to reject a catcher's sign, or for a product that helps remove something.
To get rid of or free oneself from something unwanted, such as a physical or emotional condition, a pursuer, or a negative association.
Shake off: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃeɪk ɒf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃeɪk ɑːf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “shake off the dust from your feet”
- “shake it off (related imperative form)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a dog shaking water off its fur after a bath. The dog makes a vigorous, deliberate motion to become dry. 'Shake off' is the same deliberate, vigorous action to become free of something unwanted.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNWANTED THINGS ARE PHYSICAL BURDENS/ATTACHMENTS THAT CAN BE REMOVED BY PHYSICAL ACTION.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'shake off' used CORRECTLY?