shadow
1268
notice her) → see SHADE (USAGE) 3 [C] a dark area like a shadow: The shadows under her eyes were caused by lack of sleep. 4 [C] infml a form without substance or from which the real substance has gone: After his illness he was only a shadow of his former self. (=not nearly so strong, active etc, as he used to be) | She wore herself to a shadow by working too hard and not eating properly. 5 [C] a person or thing who follows another closely: The dog was his master's shadow. 6 [S(of usually in questions and negatives)] a slightest bit: He's guilty; there's not a/the shadow of a doubt about it. (=it is completely certain) → see also FIVE O'CLOCK SHADOW
shadow² v [T] 1 to follow and watch closely, especially secretly: He felt he was being shadowed, but he couldn't see anyone behind him. | Our planes shadowed the Soviet fighters until they left our airspace. 2 lit to make a shadow on; darken (as if) with a shadow: Trees shadowed the pool.
shadow³ adj [A] (in Britain) belonging to the SHADOW CABINET: the Shadow Foreign Secretary
shad·ow·box /'ʃædəʊbɒks||-'bɑːks/ v [I] to fight with an imaginary opponent, especially as training for BOXING —ing n [U] : (fig.) Let's stop this shadow-boxing (=testing each other's opinions or intentions) and get down to discussing the main point of dispute between us.
Shadow 'Cabinet, the the most important politicians in the OPPOSITION party in the British Parliament. Each member of the Shadow Cabinet is responsible for his/her party's policy in one of the main areas of government, and is called, for example, the Shadow Minister of Defence or the Shadow Chancellor. But the Shadow Cabinet has no actual power.
shad·ow·y /'ʃædəi/ adj 1 hard to see or know about clearly: Attila the Hun is a shadowy and little-known historical figure. 2 full of shade; in shadow: the shadowy depths of the forest
shad·y /'ʃeɪdi/ adj 1 in or producing shade: a shady part of the garden | a shady tree 2 infml derog probably dishonest: a shady politician | He's known to have been involved in several shady business deals.
Shaf·fer, Sir Peter /'ʃæfə/ (1926–) a British writer of plays and films, best known for The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1964), Equus (1973), and Amadeus (1979), a play about Mozart which was also made into a successful film.
shaft¹ /'ʃɑːft||'ʃæft/ n 1 [C] a long or thin pole to which the sharp end of a spear, ARROW, or similar weapon is fixed 2 [C] the long handle of a hammer, AXE, GOLD CLUB, or similar tool 3 [C] a bar which turns, or around which a belt or wheel turns, to pass on power or movement, especially from an engine to something driven by the engine: a propeller shaft | the crankshaft in a car engine 4 [C] a long passage, usually in an up-and-down or sloping direction: a mine shaft | a ventilator shaft | a lift shaft 5 [C] either of the pair of poles between which an animal is fastened to pull a vehicle 6 [C(of)] a beam of light coming through an opening: A shaft of sunlight pierced the gloom. 7 [C(of)] lit a sharply funny or hurtful remark: No one is safe from his shafts of wit. 8 [the S] AmE slang severe and unfair treatment: It's always me that gets the shaft. | She gave her boyfriend the shaft. (=stopped going out with him)
shaft² v [T often pass.] AmE slang to treat unfairly and very severely: We got shafted on that sale: they tricked us into paying too much.
Shafts·bu·ry Av·e·nue /ˌʃɑːftsbəri 'ævənjuː||ˌʃæftsberi 'ævənjuː/ a street in central London where there are many theatres
shag¹ /ʃæg/ n 1 [U] rough strong tobacco cut into small thin pieces 2 [C] a large black seabird 3 [C] BrE taboo slang an act of having sex
shag² v -gg- [T] BrE taboo slang to have sex with; a word usually used by men
shagged 'out adj [F] BrE slang very tired; an expression usually used by men
shag·gy /'ʃægi/ adj 1 being or covered with long, uneven, and untidy hair: a shaggy beard/dog 2 (of hair, material etc) having a rough untidy surface: a shaggy coat/mat —giness n [U]
shaggy-'dog ,story n a long joke which has an ending that is purposely weak or meaningless
Shah, shah /ʃɑː/ n the title held by the non-elected leaders of some Middle Eastern countries, especially formerly in Iran
Shah Ja·han /ˌʃɑː dʒə'hɑːn/ (1592–1666) an EMPEROR (=ruler) of northern India from 1628 to 1658, who is regarded as the greatest of the Mogul family of Indian emperors. Shah Jahan built the TAJ MAHAL and many other impressive buildings.
shake¹ /ʃeɪk/ v shook /ʃʊk/, shaken /'ʃeɪkən/ 1 [I;T] to (cause to) move up and down or from side to side with quick short movements: The house shook when the earthquake started. | She was shaking with laughter/anger/fear. | Her voice shook with emotion. | She must have had a very bad fright; she was shaking like a leaf. (fig.) He was shaking in his shoes (=very nervous) at the thought of making a speech in public. | The medicine must be well shaken before use. | The angry crowd shook their fists at the police. | He shook salt onto his food. | She shook the sand out of her shoes. | The dog shook himself dry. | The little boy shook himself free of his mother's grasp. 2 [T(UP); often pass.] to trouble the mind or feelings of; cause to lose confidence or self-control; upset: She was badly shaken (up) by the accident/by the bad news. 3 [T] to make less certain; weaken; UNDERMINE: Nothing can shake my belief in her honesty. → see also UNSHAKEABLE 4 more than one can shake a stick at infml or humor a very large number (of): She's won more races than you can shake a stick at. 5 shake a leg infml (usually imperative) to act fast; hurry: You'd better shake a leg if you want to catch that train! 6 shake hands to take and hold someone's right hand in one's own for a moment, often moving it up and down, as a sign of greeting, goodbye, agreement, or pleasure: The two men shook hands (with each other)/shook each other's hands/shook each other by the hand. 7 shake one's head to move one's head from side to side in order to answer 'no' or show disapproval → compare NOD 8 shaken, not stirred an instruction for making a COCKTAIL (=mixed alcoholic drink) famous as a phrase said by James BOND in the stories by Ian Fleming: a vodka Martini, shaken, not stirred 9 shake on it infml to shake hands with someone as a sign of agreement: Let's shake on it.
shake down phr v infml 1 [T[shake sthg. ⇔ down]] BrE to take on: a SHAKEDOWN voyage 2 [T[shake sbdy. ⇔ down]] infml, especially AmE to get money from by a trick or threats → see also SHAKEDOWN 3 [T[shake sbdy. ⇔ down]] AmE infml to search thoroughly → see also SHAKEDOWN 4 [+adv/prep] BrE to use unusual sleeping arrangements, such as not sleeping in a bed, or sleeping in a bed with someone who is not one's usual sleeping partner: Don't give up your bed for me; I can shake down on the floor. → see also SHAKEDOWN 5 [I] BrE old-fash to become familiar with and able to deal with a new situation: He's new in the office but he'll soon shake down.
shake sbdy./sthg. ⇔ off phr v [T] to get rid of; free oneself from; escape from: We managed to shake off our pursuers in the crowd. | I've had a cold for two weeks now – I just can't shake it off.
shake sthg. ⇔ out phr v [T] to clean (something) by opening it out and shaking it: He took the dirty mat outside and shook it out. → compare SHAKEOUT
shake sthg. ⇔ up phr v [T] 1 infml to make big changes in (an organization), especially so as to make it more effective: The new chairman will shake up the company. → see also SHAKE-UP 2 to mix by shaking
shake² n 1 [C usually sing.] an act of shaking: She answered 'no' with a shake of the head. 2 [C] a MILK SHAKE 3 [S] AmE infml treatment of the stated type: He's a dealer who'll give you a fair shake. 4 in two shakes (of a lamb's tail) infml very soon → see also SHAKES
shake-down /'ʃeɪkdaʊn/ n infml 1 a last test operation of a new ship or aircraft before it is put into general use: a shakedown voyage/flight 2 AmE an act of getting money dishonestly, especially by threats 3 AmE a thorough search 4 a place prepared as a bed → see also SHAKE DOWN
shake-out /'ʃeɪkaʊt/ n. 1 a situation in which, because of a sudden drop in general industrial or business activity, weaker firms tend to go out of business 2 a SHAKE-UP → compare SHAKE OUT
shak·er /'ʃeɪkər/ n a container or instrument used in shaking or shaking out especially the stated thing: He mixed us a drink in the cocktail shaker. | a salt shaker → compare SIFTER