Quake in one's boots

From Fresh Dictionary

1 English

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English

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Verb

quake in one's boots

((idiomatic{{#if:|, {{{2}}}{{#if:|, {{{3}}}{{#if:|, {{{4}}}{{#if:|, {{{5}}}{{#if:|, {{{6}}}{{#if:|, {{{7}}}{{#if:|, {{{8}}}{{#if:|, {{{9}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}})) To be frightened, scared, or nervous.
The thought of climbing that high had him quaking in his boots.

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Usage note

Often used sarcastically to mean that something is not at all frightening, e.g. The little dog thought it had me quaking in my boots with all the barking it was doing.

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