[Idiom] SHAKE A LEG. - Accelerate Your Pace: Get Things Done Faster

Hurry up.

Shake a leg" is a colloquial way to tell someone to hurry up. Although its origins are debated, some suggest it was commonly used aboard ships or during dances as a way to get people moving quickly. In modern usage, telling someone to "shake a leg" means you're asking them to speed up whatever they’re doing, whether it’s getting ready in the morning or completing a task. It adds a light-hearted urgency to daily chores and responsibilities.

Example Sentences

1. Hurry up and shake a leg or we'll be late for the movie!

   Hurry up or we'll be late for the movie!

2. Come on, shake a leg! We need to catch that bus in five minutes.

   Come on, hurry up! We need to catch that bus in five minutes.

3. Can you shake a leg? Everyone is waiting for us to start the game.

   Can you hurry up? Everyone is waiting for us to start the game.