Dictionary

shake one's head en · VERB

Meanings

1. To move one's head from side to side, in a repeated swiveling motion from the neck, to indicate disagreement, negation, disbelief, disapproval or dismay.
   • She was shaking her head no.
   • "An Indian lost in the woods!" said the scout, shaking his head doubtingly. 1826, James Fenimore Cooper, chapter 4, in The Last of the Mohicans:
   • The Irishman, outstanding in the 2-0 victory over Wolves last week, limped off soon afterwards shaking his head and exchanging words with a section of Villa fans. 2011 October 22, Sam Sheringham, “Aston Villa 1 - 2 West Brom”, in BBC Sport:
   • Mr. Brandon shook his head in despair at the unbusinesslike methods of his patron. 1918, Edgar Wallace, chapter 7, in The Man Who Knew:
2. (uncommon) To move one's head up and down, in a repeated hinge-like motion from the top of the spine, to indicate agreement, affirmation, approval, or simply polite attentiveness.
   • She listened with care, shaking her head in agreement from time to time. 2005, Robert Silverberg, At Winter's End: The New Springtime, Volume 1, →ISBN, page 305:

Forms

Deriveds

smh · smh one's head · SMH · shake my head · smh my head

Synonyms

nod (move one's head up and down)

Translations (23)

fi pudistaa päätään (move one's head from side to side) · it scuotere la testa (move one's head from side to side) · hu rázza a fejét (move one's head from side to side) · ja 首を横に振る (move one's head from side to side) · be мата́ць галаво́й (move one's head from side to side) · yue 擰頭 /拧头 (move one's head from side to side) · fr secouer la tête (move one's head from side to side) · lb de Kapp rëselen (move one's head from side to side) · ru покача́ть голово́й (move one's head from side to side) · cmn 搖頭 /摇头 (move one's head from side to side) · de den Kopf schütteln (move one's head from side to side) · ko 고개를 젓다 (move one's head from side to side) · pt balançar a cabeça (move one's head from side to side) · ko 고개를 흔들다 (move one's head from side to side) · ang cweċċan hēafod (move one's head from side to side) · vi lắc đầu (move one's head from side to side) · ro da din cap (move one's head from side to side) · es negar con la cabeza (move one's head from side to side) · sv skaka på huvudet (move one's head from side to side) · nl hoofd schudden (move one's head from side to side) · tr kafa sallamak (move one's head from side to side) · uk хита́ти голово́ю (move one's head from side to side) · ru кача́ть голово́й (move one's head from side to side)