give one's head a shake

English

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Verb

give one's head a shake (third-person singular simple present gives one's head a shake, present participle giving one's head a shake, simple past and past participle gave one's head a shake)

1. (idiomatic, Canada) To reassess the common sense of one's behaviour, ideas, etc.
   • 2009 August 20, Joanne Chianello, “New program asks you to pass on the sodium”, in The Windsor Star:

     If you're thinking about topping your burger with ketchup, mustard, relish and perhaps a couple of pickle slices, you might want to "give your head a shake."

   • 2011, Roxanne Hooper, "Please, keep the wilderness wild", The Record (New Westminster, British Columbia), 19 August 2011:

     But give your head a shake, people. Stop pushing for Wi-Fi at campgrounds around B.C. The entire premise of going camping is to escape from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives.

   • 2011 December 5, Cam Cole, “Leafs lying scandal blown out of proportion”, in National Post:

     Talk about focussing on the unimportant. Give your head a shake, Google.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:give one's head a shake.