be no great shakes

Meaning

1. to be not very good, efficient, suitable, etc.

In the movies · 1

• For Christ's sake, Malcolm, I know we're not great shakes, but the bass player has to keep the beat.Sid and Nancy1986

From the same entry

• be going great guns
• be a great one for
• great and small
• great minds think alike
• the great… in the sky
• great oaks from little acorns grow
• take pains
• take pains with
• be greater than the sum of its parts