shakes, shook, shaken, shaking
to shake off
phrasal verb
To get rid of something unwanted or unpleasant
- 1She tried to shake off the bad mood.
- 2He managed to shake off the flu after a week.
Imagine you have a bug on your arm that you want to remove. You shake your arm quickly to make the bug fall off. This action of shaking to remove something unwanted is like shaking off a bad feeling or problem that you want to get rid of.
Remember, "shake off" is a phrasal verb, so the verb and preposition must stay together. Don't separate them in a sentence. Keep "shake off" together to convey the correct meaning.
at a hair and beauty establishment
A Fresh Start
Timothy
I've been trying to shake off this cold for weeks now.
Mark
I know the feeling. A new haircut might help you feel better.
Timothy
That's a good idea. A fresh look could be just what I need.
Mark
Let's get started then. You'll feel like a new person in no time.
at the movies
Escaping the Day's Stress
Edward
I'm glad we came here tonight; I needed a break.
Michelle
Yeah, it's a great way to shake off the stress from work.
Edward
Absolutely, a good movie always helps.
Michelle
Let's just enjoy and forget about everything else for a while.
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Similar to "to shake off":
- 1discard
- 2remove