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The verb "to shake" sounds simple enough as a word that appears in everyday language, but it might be a different matter when made into a phrasal verb or noun such as "shake up" or "shake-up", as in the headline: "Clinton shakes up campaign".

In the above-mentioned headline, the phrasal verb "shake up" or "shake something up" means to cause a major change in something, such as an organisation or plan, that affects the whole matter, making it a different organisation or plan.

Senator Clinton lagged behind her rival Barack Obama in the Potomac Primary on Tuesday, so she "shook up", or changed, her election campaign. This is what the headline tells us.

"New accounting software was introduced to the finance department as the first step in its shake-up."

"Mr Benson is recruiting a new HR manager to shake up the whole HR management department."

This is not the same as when something "shakes somebody up", because then it makes them feel shocked and upset.

"The whole country was shaken up by the powerful hurricane."

Now we change the preposition to the opposite; that is "down". To "shake somebody down" is used informally in the US when someone gets money from another person by using deceptive methods such as threats or tricks.

"She accused Bob of shaking her down; he needed money to pay his debt."

Which meaning of the phrasal verb is used in each sentence;

a. to cause a major change

b. a major change

c.d. to get money using threats

d. to be shocked by an event

1. The electronic office concept has shaken up all government agencies.

2. Don't let those good-for-nothing brats shake you down; tell an adult if you need help.

3. Coach Gregory was appointed to supervise the shake-up of the national team.

4. The children were shaken up by the sudden loss of their friends.

Answers:          1. a, 2. c, 3. b, 4. d

By Parnsap Yomanage