shake one's head

== English == === Verb === shake one's head (third-person singular simple present shakes one's head, present participle shaking one's head, simple past shook one's head, past participle shaken one's head) 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. (less common) 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. ==== Usage notes ==== A relatively quick head movement from side to side indicates an emphatic "no", while a slower motion tends to indicate disbelief or dismay. A relatively quick head movement up and down indicates an emphatic "yes", while a slower motion tends to indicate attentiveness. In some countries, for example in Bulgaria and Sri Lanka, the meanings are reversed: i.e. a movement side to side means "yes" and a movement up and down means "no". ==== Synonyms ==== (move one's head up and down): nod ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ====