Cool MateExcellent vs That's a shake
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Excellent
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
That's a shake
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Excellent
| Excellent | That's a shake | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈeksələnt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ə ʃeɪk//🇺🇸 //ðæts ə ʃeɪk// |
| Meaning | very good or great | This means that something is very good or impressive. |
| Example | Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. | When she scored the winning goal, everyone shouted, 'That's a shake!' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, most, really, truly, at, for | that's a shake moment, that's a shake situation, that's a shake reaction |
| Antonyms | poor, bad, substandard | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'excellent' in a negative context (e.g. 'That was an excellent mistake')., Confusing 'excellent' with 'excellently' (adverb form) in the wrong context., Overusing it when 'good' or 'fine' would suffice. | Using it in overly formal contexts., Misinterpreting it as a literal shake., Confusing it with other expressions of approval. |
| Usage notes | Use 'excellent' to describe something that is of very high quality. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts where simpler terms might be more fitting. | Often used informally to express approval or excitement. It's casual and may not be suitable in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Excellent vs That's a shake
What's the difference between Excellent and That's a shake?
Excellent: very good or great That's a shake: This means that something is very good or impressive.
Which is more common: Excellent and That's a shake?
Excellent is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Excellent: Her performance in the play was excellent and received a standing ovation. That's a shake: When she scored the winning goal, everyone shouted, 'That's a shake!'
Can I use Excellent and That's a shake interchangeably?
Not always. Excellent and That's a shake are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.