shake a leg
Pick up pace
Shake a leg means hurry up or get moving: Shake a leg, we're going to be late!
The phrase can also mean to dance, though this sense is now old-fashioned.
Both uses evoke physical motion as a spur to action.
Command to depart
- step on itUrging someone to hurry
- chop-chopUrgent command for speed
- on the doubleImmediately and quickly
- prontoWithout any delay
make haste · hustle · rush · hurry up · move it · snap to it · look lively · get a move on
Rhythmic blues music
- jiveSwing-era dance or bunk
- swingSuspended recreational seat
- tapValve controlling liquid flow
- waltzDance in three-quarter time
foxtrot · salsa · tango · cha-cha · samba · rumba · disco · ballroom
get moving
Command to depart
- step on itUrging someone to hurry
- chop-chopUrgent command for speed
- on the doubleImmediately and quickly
pronto · make haste · hustle · rush · hurry up · move it · snap to it · look lively · get a move on · quicken
boogie
Rhythmic blues music
waltz · foxtrot · salsa · tango · cha-cha · samba · rumba · disco · ballroom · hip-hop
impatience
Intolerance of delay
- restlessnessState of unease
- antsyRestlessly eager or nervous
- fidgetyNervously unable to settle
agitated · edgy · jittery · twitchy · anxious · nervous · uneasy · time pressure · deadline · crunch time
encouragement
Support spurring continued effort
- proddingPersistent urging forward
- promptingGiving reminders to continue
- urgingStrongly encouraging action
pep talk · exhortation · spurring · nudge · goading · rallying · rousing · coaxing · pushing · kick-start
- departuresleave, depart, exit, leaving, go
- hurry uphurry, hurry up, rush, hustle, move it
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, barking up the wrong tree
- urgencyurgent, urgently, emergency, ASAP, stat
- danceballet, breaking, folk dances, b-boying, folk dance
- morningmorning, sunrise, daybreak, dawn, mid-morning
shake a legtake your time
Proceed without urgency
dawdle · dilly-dally · drag your feet · linger · lag
shake a legsit tight
Wait without acting
stay put · sit still · stand still · be still · hold still
shake, leg, shaking, shaken, shakes, handshake, shaker, unshaken, shakeable