Awesome vs That's a shake

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Awesome

InformalTop 1,000 (very common)B1adjective

That's a shake

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: That's a shakeMost common: Awesome
 AwesomeThat's a shake
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈɔːsəm//🇺🇸 //ˈɔːsəm//🇬🇧 //ðæts ə ʃeɪk//🇺🇸 //ðæts ə ʃeɪk//
MeaningVery good or impressiveThis means that something is very good or impressive.
ExampleThat movie was awesome!When she scored the winning goal, everyone shouted, 'That's a shake!'
RegisterInformalNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsawesome experience, awesome job, awesome view, awesome performancethat's a shake moment, that's a shake situation, that's a shake reaction
Antonymsterrible, awful, bad-
Common mistakesUsed too frequently; try to vary vocabulary., Confused with 'awful', which means very bad., Overused for minor achievements.Using it in overly formal contexts., Misinterpreting it as a literal shake., Confusing it with other expressions of approval.
Usage notesCommonly used in casual conversation. Avoid in formal writing, where 'impressive' or 'excellent' might be more appropriate.Often used informally to express approval or excitement. It's casual and may not be suitable in formal situations.

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Awesome
That's a shake

Frequently asked questions: Awesome vs That's a shake

What's the difference between Awesome and That's a shake?

Awesome: Very good or impressive That's a shake: This means that something is very good or impressive.

Which is more formal: Awesome and That's a shake?

That's a shake is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Awesome and That's a shake?

Awesome is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Awesome: That movie was awesome! That's a shake: When she scored the winning goal, everyone shouted, 'That's a shake!'

Can I use Awesome and That's a shake interchangeably?

Not always. Awesome 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.

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