The term 'SHAKES, AS A TAIL' can be solved by the crossword solutions 'LOSES' (5 letters) and 'WAGS' (4 letters). This phrase is a metaphor for someone who is feeling nervous or anxious. To shake, as a tail, is to move back and forth rapidly, which is often how people express their anxiety. Similarly, to lose something is to be unable to find it, which can also be used to describe a feeling of unease. Lastly, to wag something is to move it from side to side, which is another way to express nervousness.