The phrase “shake up” means to make significant changes within an organization, profession, or similar setting in order to improve efficiency or effectiveness. For example, “The whole industry needs shaking up.”
Key points
- Definition: to implement important changes to improve performance.
- Scope: can apply to organizations, professions, industries, or systems.
- Intent: typically aimed at increasing efficiency, effectiveness, or modernization.
Usage notes
- Commonly used with “shake up” or “shaking up” (gerund form).
- Often accompanied by qualifiers such as “radical,” “major,” or “significant.”
Example sentences
- A radical reform was needed to shake up the outdated management structure.
- The government announced plans to shake up the education system to raise standards.
Author’s summary
A concise definition and usage spotlight: “shake up” denotes major changes aimed at boosting efficiency or effectiveness in organizations or industries.
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Oxford Learner's Dictionaries — 2025-12-06