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Difference between Shake a leg and Shake a loose leg

shake a leg(coll.)

1. move faster; hurry up:

  • They are waiting outside in the car; let’s shake a leg!

2. dance:

  • The stage is ready for them, if they like to act or the dancing-room, should they wish to shake a leg.

Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase swing the leg—(Nautical) evade duty:

  • There was a nautical expression “swing the leg,” an allusion to the pretence of having a damaged leg so as to avoid work.

shake a loose leg—(rare)

1. = shake a leg 2:

  • Play, for Heaven’s sake, or you will work yourselves into a nation of automatons! Shake a loose leg to a lively fiddle!

2. (coll.) lead an irregular life; live freely:

  • You’re too much occupied here with your shop: besides, you may shake a loose leg yourself occasionally for all the public knows, eh?