shake one's head

Verb

shake one's head (third-person singular simple present shakes one's head, present participle shaking one's head, simple past shook one's head, past participle shaken one's head)

1. To move one's head from side to side, in a repeated swiveling motion from the neck, to indicate disagreement, negation, disbelief, disapproval or dismay.
   • She was shaking her head no.
   • "An Indian lost in the woods!" said the scout, shaking his head doubtingly.1826, James Fenimore Cooper, chapter 4, in The Last of the Mohicans
2. (uncommon) To move one's head up and down, in a repeated hinge-like motion from the top of the spine, to indicate agreement, affirmation, approval, or simply polite attentiveness.
   • She listened with care, shaking her head in agreement from time to time.2005, Robert Silverberg, At Winter's End: The New Springtime, Volume 1, →ISBN, page 305

   Synonyms:

   nod