Shake a leg!
informal

- used to tell someone to hurry or act more quickly

- to dance

Cambridge Dictionary / Collins Dictionary

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PHRASE ORIGIN

The phrase “Shake a leg!” (or “Show a leg!”) is of British naval origin. Officers gave this order to sailors who they were rousing from sleep.

Showing a leg out of their hammock was proof that sailors were awake and were about to get up.

Use “Shake a leg!” informally in situations where you feel someone under your command needs to be pushed to immediate and fast action.

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BIZARRE WORLD-RECORD LEG-SHAKE

On the 13th of September 2008, in Cologne (Germany), Christopher Irmscher set the fastest 100 metre hurdles record.

He ran and jumped the standard 100 metre hurdles course wearing swim fins* in just 14.82 seconds on the set of Guinness World Records.

*Schwimmflossen

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SYNONYMS

Be quick! Be swift! Chop Chop! Don't dawdle! Get a move on! Get cracking! Get going! Get moving! Get a move on, pronto! Get your skates on! Hurry up! Let’s go! Move it! Make haste! Move your butt! Make it snappy! No time to lose! On the double! Quick, quick, quick! SHAKE A LEG! Speed up! Step on it! Time waits for no one!

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

"SHAKE A LEG! Jim. We're going to be late for the meeting!”

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