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Writing Challenge: Invent a word (legshakin)

Posted by Expector Smith on December 10, 2015

Imagine you just seated yourself in the airport - waiting for boarding. That's when you found yourself shaking your legs while seated watching, talking or listening. I just invented this word 'legshakin' for the movement of your legs. I know there's a Chinese word for such leg movement. What do you call it in English? Or can you invent a word yourself for the leg movement?

legshakin ∣noun∣ /legʃeikiŋ/

Example sentence: Legshakin can be so annoying or distracting, but can also be so beneficial for preventing thromboembolism in the leg, especially when you need to be seated for a long time.

expector, challenge, invent, leg, shake, word, writting

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Comments

Expector Smith December 14, 2015 22:33

@Afro

Sometimes I found myself shaking my legs, too. It may do no harm if your legshakin doesn't make anyone feel uncomfortable.

Thanks for the new word 'haughtpose' for the posture.
bet December 14, 2015 4:43

If someone starts enjoying 'legshakin' privately he/she must get it as a habit. So, no way! I want to give a name of that pose which Mohammad described as 'haughtypose'.
Expector Smith December 13, 2015 22:32

@Luci

Great use of the 'legshakin'. It seems so many people find legshakin annoying or even intolerable.

I wonder if it's a good idea to shake legs while you're alone (in private rather than in public).

Or, you should make sure your legshakin doesn't make anyone nearby feel uncomfortable.
Luci December 13, 2015 18:48

Interesting word :D In Czech language we have no word like this and when I see somebody enjoying legshakin I do feel pretty nervous :D I think it is kind of catchy..once somebody starts they might have soon five, six followers! In this case such people can start legshakin club or community :)
Expector Smith December 13, 2015 11:23

Why do people shake their legs?

They may be nervous or frightened. They may need to relax or unwind. Or, they may be trying to think of something or somebody.
Expector Smith December 13, 2015 11:16

@setareh

Yes, you can say that again. Thanks for your opinion.

@Grace

You're not alone in feeling that way - so many people find 'legshakin' annoying. Thanks.

@Mohammad

Great, but, while 'cross-legged' can be so charming (positive), the pose you mentioned can be so annoying (negative). So, we really need to invent a word for it.
Mohammad December 13, 2015 9:36

I found the equivalent statement for that position (without shaking).

Cross your legs: => to place one leg over the other.

Example: She sat with her legs crossed.

Example: He sat in the armchair and crossed his legs.

Its adjective is cross-legged (Oxford Advanced Learners' Dic)

http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/cro...
setareh December 13, 2015 3:52

Oh, if someone who seats next to me shakes his or her legs i want to fasten their legs so tightly that they couldn't move it.:D It's annoying for me but maybe it's soothing for the person himself or herself.

Hey guy, please don't shake your leg; legshakin is not a good habit.
Expector Smith December 13, 2015 0:13

@Mohammad

Great comment! Yes, you got it. Maybe we should invent a word for the pose. Can you invent one? Thanks.

@Evangel

You're welcome.
Mohammad December 12, 2015 19:45

Well done dear Expector, by the way do we have any equivalent word or verb for the position which a person has sat on a chair and put one of their leg on the other one without shaking.

In fact in diplomacy, when two presidents or ambassadors talks or negotiates together, sitting in mentioned position while the direction of your upper foot would be to the other person, doesn't have good meaning and can be considered as an insult.