shiver my timbers

"Shiver my timbers" is an idiomatic phrase that originated from nautical usage. It is an exclamation expressing surprise, fear, or excitement. The phrase specifically refers to the vibration or shivering of a ship's timbers, which are its wooden beams or structural supports. The phrase has been popularized by fictional pirates and sailors in literature and movies, often used to convey a sense of dramatic or exaggerated emotion.