Meaning & use
shaking in their boots
Last updated
“shaking in their boots” is a form of “shake in one's boots”.
Meanings
phrasefixed phraseinformalfigurative
Very frightened or extremely nervous about something that is going to happen.
Grammar: Used after be or a verb like stand or wait; the possessive changes with the subject: I was shaking in my boots, they were shaking in their boots.
Patterns
- be shaking in your boots
- be shaking in your boots about something
- leave someone shaking in their boots
She was shaking in her boots before the interview.
The whole team was shaking in their boots about the final match.
He pretended to be calm, but he was shaking in his boots.
phrasefixed phraseinformalfigurative
Very afraid of someone or something because of their power or threats.
Grammar: Often used with by or of to name the person or thing that frightens you.
Patterns
- be shaking in your boots of someone
- be shaking in your boots by something
The smaller firms were shaking in their boots by the giant competitor.
Villagers were shaking in their boots of the new landlord.
Common combinations
- be shaking in your boots
- I was shaking in my boots when I had to speak in public.
- leave someone shaking in their boots
- The boss's warning left everyone shaking in their boots.
- shaking in your boots about something
- They were shaking in their boots about the exam results.
- stand there shaking in your boots
- Don't just stand there shaking in your boots; do something.
Synonyms and how they differ
- terrified
- A direct adjective for extreme fear; use it when you want a plain description rather than this colorful image.
- scared stiff
- Also informal and means very frightened, but it does not necessarily suggest nervous anticipation the way this phrase does.
- quaking in your boots
- A very close variant with almost the same meaning; 'quaking' stresses trembling even more.
Opposites
Word family
- shake in one's boots phrase
- The base form of the same idiom, used with any possessive.
- boot noun
- The footwear item in the image; the idiom suggests trembling so much your boots move.
Commonly confused: shaking in their boots or shake your boots? shaking in their boots or fill someone's boots?
shaking in their boots vs shake your boots
This is not a standard English idiom; learners sometimes drop 'in' and the possessive by mistake.
shaking in their boots vs fill someone's boots
A different idiom meaning to take over someone's job or role successfully.
Practice
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Choose one answer.
The fixed form is 'shaking in your/their boots'. Dropping 'in' or changing the preposition breaks the idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “shaking in their boots”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.