shake in (one's) boots

Like this video? Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day!

shake in (one's) boots

To tremble with fear. Often used sarcastically. My brother is so strong and scary-looking that people shake in their boots when he threatens them. Ooh, I'm really scared of you! I'm shaking in my boots, you frighten me so!

See also: boot, shake

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

shake in one's boots

 and quake in one's boots

Fig. to be afraid; to shake from fear. I was shaking in my boots because I had to go see the manager for being late. Stop quaking in your boots, Bob. I'm not going to fire you.

See also: boot, shake

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.