rattle

Universal Words verb, noun verb (informal) 1 to make a series of short loud sounds when hitting against sth hard; to make sth do this: [V] Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled. * He shook me so hard that my teeth rattled. [also VN] 2 [V+adv./prep.] (of a vehicle) to make a series of short loud sounds as it moves somewhere: A convoy of trucks rattled by. 3 [VN] to make sb nervous or frightened SYNUNNERVE: He was clearly rattled by the question. seealsoSABRE-RATTLING IDIOMS rattle sb's cage (spoken) to annoy sb: Who's rattled his cage? PHRASALVERBS rattle aroun