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shake up

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shake someone or something up

to jostle or knock someone or something around; to toss someone or something back and forth. We rode over a rough road, and that shook us up. The accident shook up John quite a bit.

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shake someone up

to shock or upset someone. The sight of the injured man shook me up. Your rude remark really shook up Tom.

See also: shake, up

shake something up

 

1. Lit. to shake a container to mix its contents together well. Please shake this up before using it. I shook up the medicine bottle like it says on the label.

2. Fig. to reorganize a group or organization, not always in a gentle way. The new manager shook the office up and made things run a lot better. The coach shook the team up before the last game and made them better organized.

See also: shake, up

shake up somebody

also shake somebody up

to upset someone The kids were pretty shaken up by the accident. Patrick's death shook me up pretty badly.

See also: shake, up

shake up something

also shake something up

to cause big changes in a situation or organization The company announced that it would shake up top management and cut 1,000 jobs. Every new boss likes to shake things up a bit when they take over.

See also: shake, up

shake up

1. Agitate in order to mix or loosen, as in This cough medicine needs to be thoroughly shaken up, or Please shake up these pillows.

2. Upset greatly, as in Even though no one was hurt, he was greatly shaken up by the accident. This usage alludes to being agitated like a liquid being shaken. Also see all shook up. [Late 1800s]

3. Subject to drastic rearrangement or reorganization, as in New management was bent on shaking up each division.

See also: shake, up

shake up

v.

1. To move something vigorously up and down or from side to side, as in mixing: I shook up the orange juice before I opened the carton. We shook the ingredients up and poured them into a bowl.

2. To upset someone by or as if by a physical jolt or shock: The accident really shook us up. The bad news shook up the whole family.

3. To subject something to a drastic rearrangement or reorganization: The new management intends to shake up the company. The CEO's new policies have really shaken things up around here—I now report to a new boss.

See also: shake, up