"shake a leg"

Posted by P Schoultis on June 25, 2003

In Reply to: "Shake a leg" posted by Gary on June 23, 2003

: : Where did this phrase originate,, "shake a leg " so as to get someone to "hurry up " or do something quickly or right away ?

Believe it is a British naval phrase sometimes described as a corruption of "show a leg". In sailing ship time, crewmen were permitted to have female family members on the ships. At morning muster, the non-sailor (that is females) "showed a leg"...giving the reason they were not up and about, moving to their duty station.

• Are you sure? Lewis 06/26/03