no great shakes

1 definition found

no great shakes - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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.
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              The great soldier's honor was composed
              Of thicker stuff, which could endure a shake.
                                                    --Herbert.
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              Our salutations were very hearty on both sides,
              consisting of many kind shakes of the hand.
                                                    --Addison.
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     2. A fissure or crack in timber, caused by its being dried
        too suddenly. --Gwilt.
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     3. A fissure in rock or earth.
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     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.
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     5. (Naut.) One of the staves of a hogshead or barrel taken
        apart. --Totten.
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     6. A shook of staves and headings. --Knight.
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     7. (Zool.) The redshank; -- so called from the nodding of its
        head while on the ground. [Prov. Eng.]
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     No great shakes, of no great importance. [Slang] --Byron.
  
     The shakes, the fever and ague. [Colloq. U.S.]
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