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- be no great shakes
be no great shakes
be no great shakes
slang To be mediocre, unimpressive or disappointing. I don't know why everyone loves that restaurant so much—I've been there before, and it's no great shakes. That defenseman makes a lot of money, but if you ask me, he's no great shakes.
be no great shakes
(informal) to not be very good at doing something He was a very creative chef but no great shakes on the management side of business.