the shakes

noun

informal
: a condition in which parts of the body move uncontrollably
He drank too much coffee and got a bad case of the shakes.
The whole experience gave me the shakes.

Examples of the shakes in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That's when the shakes must have come in. — EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025 Hopefully, many will share the shakes, too. — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026 That said, Pierce might command a huge salary, and the 49ers still have the shakes after their last two big-money deals for wideouts. — Matt Barrows, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026 Resist The Urge To Stir Caramelizing dry sugar gives many bakers the shakes. — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the shakes

Rhymes for the shakes

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Browse Nearby Words

the shaft
the shakes
the shape of things to come
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The shakes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20shakes. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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