shake like a leaf
Tremble with fear
To shake like a leaf is to tremble visibly, usually from fear, cold, or nervousness.
The image is of leaves quivering in wind—small, constant, uncontrollable movement: She was shaking like a leaf before her job interview.
When the police pulled him over, he was shaking like a leaf.
- shudderConvulsive trembling from fear
- scared stiffImmobilized by extreme fright
- scared to deathExtremely frightened
- trembleShake from fear
- quiverTrembling or arrow case
fear · timid · heart pounding · vibrate · convulse · anxiety · bundle of nerves · nervous wreck · flinch · dread · terror · flutter · quaking · palpitate · white as a sheet · panic · fight or flight · shiver
shake like a leafcool as a cucumber
Extremely calm and composed
calm and collected · steady as a rock · unflappable · poised · composed
shake like a leafmotionless
Lacking all movement
immobile · rock-steady · steady as a rock · steady-handed · still
shake, like, leaf, shakes, shaken, shaking, shaker, shakers, shaky