Cool MateGreat vs That's a shake
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Great
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
That's a shake
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Great
| Great | That's a shake | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ə ʃeɪk//🇺🇸 //ðæts ə ʃeɪk// |
| Meaning | very good or impressive | This means that something is very good or impressive. |
| Example | This pizza is great and very tasty! | 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 | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, really, truly, very, be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great | that's a shake moment, that's a shake situation, that's a shake reaction |
| Antonyms | terrible, poor, bad | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'great' in a sarcastic way without context., Confusing 'great' with 'grate' when writing., Overusing 'great' instead of finding more specific adjectives. | Using it in overly formal contexts., Misinterpreting it as a literal shake., Confusing it with other expressions of approval. |
| Usage notes | Use 'great' to describe something positive or impressive. It's suitable in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in a sarcastic tone, as it can change the meaning. | 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: Great vs That's a shake
What's the difference between Great and That's a shake?
Great: very good or impressive That's a shake: This means that something is very good or impressive.
Which is more common: Great and That's a shake?
Great is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Great: This pizza is great and very tasty! That's a shake: When she scored the winning goal, everyone shouted, 'That's a shake!'
Can I use Great and That's a shake interchangeably?
Not always. Great 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.