shake someone's tree

shake (one's) tree

To provoke or compel one into taking some sort of action or reform. I believe people are electing radical candidates like her because they want to shake the government's tree. The employees' strike certainly shook our tree a bit, so we've begunSee also: shake, tree

shake someone's tree

Arouse to action or reaction, disturb, as in He really shook Hollywood's tree. See also: shake, tree