Here’s What It Really Means

It’s humorous how slang turns into official over time, however I assume that’s a part of the evolution of language. For example, the expression “what’s up?” was virtually unprecedented within the early nineteenth century.

After that, it got here into existence a while in the midst of the 1800s. Nevertheless, it wasn’t till the 1990’s that its reputation actually exploded. It was nearly like each teenager and their buddies had been saying it.

>Nevertheless, that wasn’t the tip of the story. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than “what’s up?” morphed into “wassup,” an expression that didn’t exist earlier than the tip of the final century.

Then, “wassup” took off within the early 2000s. And, who may neglect the Budweiser industrial with a bunch of youngsters yelling “wassup” at one another over the telephone?

In the present day’s expression can also be an attention-grabbing piece of slang that has a curious historical past.

What is the meaning of “I’m shook”?

“I’m shook” means I’m startled or shocked. Individuals use it after they come to a sudden and surprising realization.

Ergo, this shock kind of leaves the speaker speechless and confused, or, in less complicated phrases, it leaves them shook.

You too can use “I’m shook” to mean that you’re scared or anxious one way or the other.

A more in-depth have a look at “I’m shook”

There are three elements on this expression. You may have the pronoun “I,” which is mixed with the current tense of the verb “to be.” And, the star of the present is the verb “shook.”

What’s improper with the verb “shook”?

For starters, the definition of the verb “shake” may be one in every of three issues. “Shake” can mean to transfer or vibrate, which might relate to constructions or the bottom itself.

It also can mean the fast motion of an object both up and down or from facet to facet. And, the ultimate definition of “shake” is to adversely have an effect on somebody’s composure by stunning or astonishing them.

Clearly, the phrase “I’m shook” depends on the third meaning.

Now, the attention-grabbing factor to observe right here is that “shook” is the previous tense of “shake,” whereas “shaken” is the previous participle type of the verb. This could give anybody pause.

You see, we all the time use the previous participle type of a verb when making an attempt to use it as an adjective.

Instance

He’s a fallen angel.

Within the above sentence, “fallen” is an adjective that modifies “angel.” Moreover, “fallen” is prior to now participle.

That is what the above sentence would seem like if we had been to use the previous tense.

He’s a fell angel.

Sounds improper, doesn’t it?

The previous tense connotes a selected time prior to now, whereas the previous participle doesn’t try this.

Relatively, the previous participle is blissful to discuss an motion that would have occurred at any time limit prior to now, which is why this type of the verb can be utilized as an adjective.

Now, once we have a look at our expression, “I’m shook,” we’ll notice that the verb is prior to now tense as an alternative of the previous participle. How can that be?

Nicely, that is the idiomatic a part of this expression. It’s one of many only a few cases the place the previous tense is used as an adjective, and it’s also why this expression is best utilized in casual conditions.

Its grammatical “incorrectness” would make it irksome in any formal letter. In spite of everything, you may’t have the CEO of an organization telling their shareholders that they’re “shook.”

It would appear unprofessional and would undermine their credibility.

How to use “I’m shook”

As simply acknowledged, you need to reserve “I’m shook” for casual and colloquial conditions. With that in thoughts, listed below are just a few examples to see the expression in motion.

I used to be shook once I realized that Amir didn’t make it into the academy.

Individual #1: Have you ever heard? They’re laying individuals off in our firm.

Individual #2: Really? I’m shook.

I nearly had a automotive accident. I’m shook.

As you may inform, “I’m shook” is utilized in detrimental situations, instances the place one thing unhealthy has occurred.

You actually can’t use it in constructive situations as it will appear misplaced and unusual.

In spite of everything, when somebody is “shook,” their composure is misplaced and they’re negatively impacted by no matter they’ve simply realized or seen.

The historical past of “I’m shook”

Earlier than I go away you, I promised you that this expression has an attention-grabbing historical past, and I would really like to ship on this promise.

You see, when you google it, you received’t discover numerous data. However, when you use Google Books Ngram Viewer, one in every of our favourite instruments right here on Linguaholic, you’ll discover that the expression “I’m shook” has gone by way of phases.

There have been occasions when individuals used, whereas there have been different occasions when it virtually didn’t exist.

For example, up till 1869, Google has no document of this expression being utilized in any books. Then, “I’m shook” was used till 1875, after which it disappeared once more.

The expression didn’t resurface till 1897. It stayed round for some time this time, gaining in reputation till 1922, after which it disappeared once more.

It was lastly in 1953 that the expression got here and stayed round till the current day.

Now, there are a number of unanswered questions. Initially, did the expression keep its meaning all through the previous two centuries, or was it maybe slang for one thing else?

Moreover, simply because Google can’t discover this expression in its recorded books doesn’t mean that individuals weren’t utilizing it through the occasions that it had “disappeared.”

So, had been individuals nonetheless utilizing it for instance between 1875 and 1897, and in that case, why did individuals cease utilizing it in print?