cup shake
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of cup shake
First recorded in 1785–95; so called because wood so damaged separates into concentric, cuplike pieces
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Did your coffee cup shake and your corn flakes fly across the room?
From The Guardian
Frost may in some instances be responsible for cup shake or at least a contributing factor, although trees growing in regions free from frost often have ring shake.
From Project Gutenberg
Shrinkage of the heartwood may be concentric as well as radial in its action, thus producing cup shake instead of, or in connection with, heart shake.
From Project Gutenberg
A local defect somewhat similar in effect to cup shake is known as rind gall.
From Project Gutenberg
Cup shake is often associated with other forms of shake, and not infrequently shows traces of decay.
From Project Gutenberg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.