shake the plum tree: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  generalUSUKinformalcolloquialidiomatic
  • To probe, solicit, or exert pressure in order to obtain valuable results, rewards, favors, or information, analogous to shaking a tree so that ripe fruit will fall.

  Examples

  Beta

  • The manager shook the plum tree to find out who was responsible for the missing funds.

    El gerente presionó para descubrir quién era responsable de los fondos faltantes.

  • If you shake the plum tree hard enough, you might get some useful information from the contacts.

    Si presionas lo suficiente, podrías obtener información útil de los contactos.

  • They’re shaking the plum tree for favors from influential people to push the project forward.

    Están solicitando favores a personas influyentes para avanzar con el proyecto.

• 2.

  generalneutralliteral
  • To shake a plum tree physically, causing its fruit or leaves to fall.

  Examples

  Beta

  • The kids shook the plum tree until the ripe fruit fell onto the ground.

    Los niños sacudieron el ciruelo hasta que la fruta madura cayó al suelo.

  • She gently shook the plum tree to harvest the remaining plums for jam-making.

    Ella sacudió suavemente el ciruelo para cosechar las ciruelas restantes para hacer mermelada.

  • Strong winds caused the plum tree to shake, scattering leaves and fruit all over the yard.

    Los fuertes vientos hicieron que el ciruelo se sacudiera, esparciendo hojas y frutas por todo el jardín.

  • They took turns shaking the plum tree to get the fruit down before the storm arrived.

    Se turnaron para sacudir el ciruelo y bajar la fruta antes de que llegara la tormenta.