PhrasesHub

Shiver my timbers

    Definitions

      • surprise or astonishment
        Express surprise or astonishment in response to something unexpected or shocking

      • emphasis
        Emphasize a feeling of fear or excitement, often in a playful or exaggerated manner

    Examples of Shiver my timbers

    • The unexpected news sent chills down my spine, causing me to exclaim, "Shiver my timbers!"

      This idiom is used to express surprise or shock. It originated from the time when wooden ships were a major mode of transportation, and timbers were the wooden beams that held the ship together. In cold weather, the timbers would shrink and creak, causing the captain to say, "Shiver, my timbers!" as a poetic and dramatic way to express the shivering of the ship. Over time, this phrase became an idiom used to express personal shock or surprise at unexpected news or events.

    • The ghostly figure in the foggy night gave me goosebumps, causing me to shiver and exclaim, "Shiver my timbers!"

      This idiom is used to express fear or shock at a spooky or eerie sight or situation. The phrasal verb "give someone goosebumps" refers to the sensation of shivering or shiver-like bumps on the skin caused by fear or excitement. In this instance, the sight of the ghostly figure in the foggy night caused the person to shiver and utter the idiom as an expression of fear and shock.

    • The cold breeze sent shivers down my spine, causing me to shiver and mutter, "Shiver my timbers!"

      This idiom is used to express discomfort or coldness in a poetic and dramatic way. The phrase "shivers down my spine" is a figurative expression to describe the sensation of the goosebumps or chills that run down the spine, usually in situations when someone is frightened or creeped out. In this instance, the cold breeze caused the person to shiver and utter the idiom to express the discomfort caused by the cold.

    • The news of my promotion made me shiver with excitement, causing me to exclaim, "Shiver my timbers!"

      This idiom is used to express excitement and enthusiasm in a poetic and dramatic way. In this instance, the news of the promotion caused the person to shiver with excitement, and the exclamation of the idiom served as an expression of the person's excitement and enthusiasm at the good news.

    • Captain Jack Sparrow shivered his timbers at the sight of the notorious pirate Blackbeard and his army of cutthroats approaching their ship in the Caribbean Sea.

      This idiom is originally from the nautical era and derives from the shivering of the wooden planks of a ship due to cold or fear. It is used figuratively to express strong or sudden feelings of fear, shock, or surprise in contemporary English.

    • The news of his impending bankruptcy sent shivers down the businessman's spine and made him shiver his timbers.

      In this instance, the idiom is used intra-sententially, meaning it is located in the middle of the sentence. It is still an effective way of conveying strong emotions and vivid imagery to the listener or reader.

    • When the headmaster announced the dramatic changes in the school curriculum, all the teachers shivered their timbers in unison.

      Here, the idiom is used collectively for a group of people, and then the explanation is presented in a humorous light, using the term "unison". The use of the idiom adds flair and colour to an otherwise routine situation.

    • The sight of the ghostly apparition sent a shiver down the spine of every person in the haunted house and made their timbers shiver.

      This variation of the idiom is used to describe a group of people being affected by an event or situation. Here, it is used to depict the group's reaction to a spooky occurrence in a ghoulish setting. The use of the idiom adds intensity and fright to the scene, bringing it to life in the listener or reader's mind.


    Conclusion

    "Shiver my timbers" is an idiom used to show surprise or emphasize strong feelings. It can be used in response to something shocking or unexpected, or to express a heightened sense of fear or excitement. The phrase is often used in a playful or exaggerated manner, adding emphasis to the speaker's emotions.

    Origin of "Shiver my timbers"

    The phrase "shiver my timbers" originated in the language of sailors and pirates. "Timbers" refer to the wooden support beams used in the construction of ships, and "shiver" means to break into pieces or splinters. In the context of the idiom, "shiver my timbers" would be a reaction to something so shocking or frightening that it feels like the very structure of the ship is being shattered. The phrase gained popularity through its use in pirate-themed literature and entertainment, and has since become a well-known expression of surprise or excitement.