1rat·tle 
/ˈrætl̟/ verb
rat·tles; rat·tled; rat·tling /ˈrætl̟/ verb 1 a [no obj] : to hit against something repeatedly and make a quick series of short, loud sounds
▪ The window rattled as the truck drove by. ▪ The coins rattled in the box.
b [+ obj] : to cause (something) to move or shake and make a series of noises : to cause (something) to rattle
▪ She rattled the jar with the coins in it. = She rattled the coins in the jar. 2 always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to make quick, short, loud sounds while moving
▪ The old truck rattled down the street. ▪ The train rattled by. 3 [+ obj] : to upset or disturb (someone)
▪ The question rattled [=unnerved] the speaker. — often used as (be) rattled ▪ I was rattled by his questions. ▪ He's an experienced performer who is not easily rattled.
▪ The window rattled as the truck drove by. ▪ The coins rattled in the box.
b [+ obj] : to cause (something) to move or shake and make a series of noises : to cause (something) to rattle
▪ She rattled the jar with the coins in it. = She rattled the coins in the jar.
▪ The old truck rattled down the street. ▪ The train rattled by.
▪ The question rattled [=unnerved] the speaker. — often used as (be) rattled ▪ I was rattled by his questions. ▪ He's an experienced performer who is not easily rattled.
rattle around [phrasal verb]
rattle around or rattle around (something) informal : to live or spend time in a place that is very big
▪ Her husband died last year, and now she's just rattling around in that huge house by herself. ▪ rattle around the house ▪ We rattled around Europe last summer. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ An old song has been rattling around in my head all day.
▪ Her husband died last year, and now she's just rattling around in that huge house by herself. ▪ rattle around the house ▪ We rattled around Europe last summer. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ An old song has been rattling around in my head all day.
rattle off [phrasal verb]
rattle (something) off or rattle off (something) informal : to say (something) quickly or easily from memory
▪ The teacher rattled off the answers. ▪ She rattled off the names of all 50 states.
▪ The teacher rattled off the answers. ▪ She rattled off the names of all 50 states.
rattle on
[phrasal verb] informal : to talk for a long time about things that are not interesting or important — often + about ▪ Grandpa would rattle on [=go on] about his childhood for hours. ▪ She rattled on and on about the party. [=she talked for a long time about the party]
rattle someone's cage — see cage
rattle through [phrasal verb]
rattle through (something) Brit : to do (something) quickly
▪ We rattled through the meeting.
▪ We rattled through the meeting.
— see also saber-rattling
