When someone says that the Industrial Revolution was "earth-shaking," they are using a metaphor to convey that the changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution were significant and had a profound impact on society and the world. The term "earth-shaking" is often used to describe events or developments that are transformative and have far-reaching consequences. In this context, it means that the Industrial Revolution brought about major changes in the way goods were produced and distributed, and the way people lived, worked, and interacted with one another. It had a tremendous impact on the economy, society, and culture, and it marked the beginning of a new era in human history.