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“Shake a leg” and “show a leg” are usually discussed together, but it isn’t at all clear how they are connected. Both phrases have more than one meaning.
“Shake a leg” means “hurry up” according to the definition in the New York Magazine in 1904. Before that, “shake a leg” had another meaning, which was “to dance”. There are several quotations from all kinds of American and British sources from the mid-19th century that are related to dancing. For example, the Dubuque Democratic Herald, October 1863, in an advertisement for a local ball: “Nearly every man in town able to shake a leg has purchased a ticket.”
“Show a leg” means either “make an appearance”, or it means “hurry up”. The second meaning isn’t commonly used, nor is it old. Whatever the source, it isn’t the original meaning of “show a leg”. Most commentators report that the phrase derives from the Royal Navy and that this was the order given to sailors to put a foot from their hammocks (吊床) and get up.
The use of “show a leg” as a wake-up call is well documented. John Masefield (Poet Laureate from 1930 to 1967) was a trainee mariner on HMS Conway until 1891. He reported the full version of the morning call as: “Heave out, heave out, heave out, heave out! Away! Come all you sleepers, Hey! Show a leg.” That’s the earliest quotation of the naval call I can find, although it may have been used well before 1891.
An alternative version comes from the fact that women were allowed on board Royal Navy ships in the 19th century and that they were allowed to stay asleep after the sailors had been woken. In the morning the bosun’s mates (水手长助手) had to check whoever was still asleep and did so by requiring them to show a leg over the side of the hammock. If a leg was hairy, it was probably male and its owner was ordered to get up and begin work. Believe that if you will; personally, I don’t.
All in all, although both of the two English slangs are sometimes used to mean “hurry up”, they are two independent phrases that were coined with different meanings.
8. How many ways does the slang “show a leg” come from?
A. 1. B. 2. C. 3. D. 4.
9. In which sentence does “shake a leg” have a different meaning?
A. I will shake a leg with him at the next ball with great pleasure.
B. Nearly every man in town able to shake a leg has purchased a ticket.
C. They wanted to shake a leg on a TV show.
D. You must shake a leg to catch the last bus.
10. What is the author’s attitude to the version mentioned in Paragraph 5?
A. Doubtful. B. Supportive. C. Indifferent. D. Neutral.
11. What is the author’s purpose of writing the text?
A. To persuade readers to learn slangs seriously.
B. To describe “shake a leg” and “show a leg”.
C. To distinguish “shake a leg” and “show a leg”.
D. To remark on “shake a leg” and “show a leg”.
8-11 BDAC
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