1 intransitive/transitive if an idea, attitude, or plan shifts, or if someone shifts it, it changes Public opinion had shifted sharply to the left following the war. A period of work time in a factory, hospital, or other place where some people work during the day and some work at night. A 12-hour shift. Day/night/evening etc shift: Rudolfo works the day shift.
1movea)[intransitive, transitive]MOVE/CHANGE POSITIONMOVE something OR somebody to move from one place or position to another, or make something do thisJoe listened, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to another.She shifted her gaze from me to Bobby.b)[transitive] British English informalCARRY to move something, especially by picking it up and carrying itGive me a hand to shift these chairs.2change attention [transitive]ATTENTION to change a situation, discussion etc by giving special attention to one idea or subject instead of to a previous oneshift something away/onto/from etcThe White House hopes to shift the media’s attention away from foreign policy issues.attention/emphasis/focus shiftsIn this stage of a rape case, the focus often shifts onto the victim and her conduct.shift gear American English (=change what you are doing)It’s hard to shift gear when you come home after a busy day at work.3change opinion [intransitive, transitive]CHANGE YOUR MIND if someone’s opinions, beliefs etc shift, they changePublic opinion was beginning to shift to the right (=become more right-wing).shifting attitudes towards marriageHe refused to shift his ground (=change his opinion).4 →shift the blame/responsibility (onto somebody)5costs/spending [transitive always + adverb/preposition]BF to change the way that money is paid or spentSYN directthe need to shift more resources towards reducing poverty6dirt/marks [transitive] British EnglishCLEANWASH to remove dirt or marks from a surface or piece of clothinga new washing powder that will shift any stain7in a car [intransitive, transitive] especially American EnglishTTC to change the gears when you are drivingSYN change British EnglishI shifted into second gear.8sell [transitive] British English informal to sell a product, especially a lot of itThe store shifted over 1,000 copies of the book last week.Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
blame shifting
The act of exchanging accusations and blame, as between two or more parties, during a dispute or some undesirable event. After the team lost the match, there was a bit of blame shifting going on between the players and the coaches.The government parties prefer to partake in blame shifting during an economic crisis.
graveyard shift
A work shift that occurs late at night. I'm a morning person, so I could never work the graveyard shift like you do.
make shift
old-fashioned To cope or manage to do something without all the resources that one would ideally like to have. Often followed by 'with' or 'without,' depending on the context of the sentence. We don't have all the spices we need for this recipe, but we can make shift with what we have.Since I forgot to pick up milk on the way home, I guess we're just going to have to make shift without it.When I was growing up, we didn't have a lot of money, but we made shift.
seismic shift
A major change. (Seismology is the study of earthquakes.) That press conference was such a disaster that I'm worried it will cause a seismic shift in how voters view him as a candidate for president.In just the last century, there has been a seismic shift in the treatment of women in this country.
shift (one's) arse
rude slang To hurry up and move. Usually used as an imperative. Primarily heard in UK. Hey, you in the red sedan! Shift your arse, already!Would you go upstairs and tell the kids to shift their arses?
shift (one's) ground
To adopt a different viewpoint or opinion. I was shocked when Liz suddenly shifted her ground and started seeing things as I did.
shift (the) deckchairs on the Titanic
To partake in or undertake some task, activity, or course of action that will ultimately prove trivial or futile in its possible effect or outcome. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. For all his blustering about overhauling the education system, the prime minister might as well have been shifting the deckchairs on the Titanic for all the good these proposals will do.You're applying for arts council funding? Why don't you just shift deckchairs on the Titanic while you're at it?
shift for (oneself)
To do things for oneself; to not rely on the help or patronage of someone else. It's no wonder that kids these days can't hold down meaningful jobs, when they're pampered from birth and can't shift for themselves by the time they leave school.You're going to have to learn to shift for yourself before you head off to college.
shift gears
To quickly or abruptly change what one is doing or discussing. With that out of the way, let's shift gears and discuss our strategy for the third quarter.About halfway into the story, the book shifts gears and begins a narrative from the perspective of the antagonist.
shift off
1. To cause someone else to become responsible for some burden or unpleasant undertaking. A noun or pronoun can be used between 'shift' and 'off.' Often followed by 'on someone.' We're the youngest team in the office, so everyone shifts off the worst jobs on us.This is your problem to deal with. You can't just shift it off on someone else.
2. obsolete To delay, defer, or postpone some task or responsibility. A noun or pronoun can be used between 'shift' and 'off.' The court will not allow us to shift off these proceedings any further.
stick shift
1. A transmission system in a motor vehicle that requires the driver to manually change gears with a clutch and shifting lever. I never learned how to drive a stick shift, so Mary had to drive for the whole road trip.
2. A motor vehicle that has such a manual transmission. My last car was a stick shift, so it took a little while to get used to this new automatic.
swing shift
A work shift typically beginning in the late afternoon or early evening and ending around midnight. I worked the swing shift at a 24-hour restaurant for a while, and it really messed up my body clock.I hate it when they put me on the swing shifts at the hospital.
the shifting sands of (something)
The constantly changing circumstances or aspects of something that makes it particularly difficult to understand or contend with. Older adults often find themselves struggling to keep up with the ever-shifting sands of technology.Part of the problem is that we've convinced ourselves that personal happiness depends on the shifting sands of romantic love, which does real damage to our ability to live fulfilled and contented lives as independent people.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
fend for oneself Go to shift for
See also: fend, for, go, shift, to
shift for oneself
and fend for oneselfto get along by oneself; to support oneself. I'm sorry, I can't pay your rent anymore. You'll just have to shift for yourself. When I became twenty years old, I left home and began to fend for myself.
shift one's ground
Fig. to change one's opinions or arguments, often without being challenged or opposed. At first Jack and I were on opposite sides, but he suddenly shifted ground and started agreeing with me. Jim has very fixed views. You won't find him shifting his ground.
stick shift
1. having to do with a nonautomatic transmission or a car that has one. I prefer a stick shift car—I don't know why. The stick shift models are cheaper—that's why.
2. a nonautomatic transmission. I can't drive a stick shift! My husband took the other car and stuck me with the stick shift.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
shift for oneself
Also, fend for oneself. Provide for one's own needs, as in Don't worry about Anne; she's very good at shifting for herself, or The children had to fend for themselves after school. The first term, using shift in the now obsolete sense of 'manage,' was first recorded about 1513; the variant, using fend for in the sense of 'look after,' was first recorded in 1629.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
shifting sands
You can talk about the shifting sands of a situation when it keeps changing, and this makes it difficult to deal with. It's a struggle to keep up with the shifting sands of fashion.The problem is that the whole economy has been built on the shifting sands of finance, not the rock of industry.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
make shift
do what you want to do in spite of not having ideal conditions; get along somehow.shift for yourself
manage as best you can without help.See also: for, shift
shift your ground
say or write something that contradicts something you have previously written or said.Shift Meaning In English
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
shift your ˈground
(usually disapproving) change your opinion or position, especially during an argument or a discussion: He’s shifted his ground on many major policy issues. OPPOSITE: stand fast/firm(the) ˌshifting ˈsands (of something)
used to describe a situation that changes so often that it is difficult to understand or deal with it: the shifting sands of the digital ageSee also: sand, shift
shift for
v. To provide for, take care of, or defend oneself without assistance. Used reflexively: The teenagers went camping, confident that they could shift for themselves.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
blame shifting
n. a process in business and government wherein the blame for something bad is shifted from person to person. (A coinage that has appeal because it fills the need to express the concept succinctly.) Can’t we have a decent argument without your constant blame shifting?
graveyard shift
Shift Meaning Images
n. the night shift of work in a factory, usually starting at about midnight. (see also swing shift.) The pay is pretty good on the graveyard shift.
stick shift
1. mod. having to do with a nonautomatic transmission or a car that has one. I prefer a stick shift car—I don’t know why. The stick shift models are cheaper—that’s why. This one’s stick shift.
Shift Meaning Spanish
2. n. a nonautomatic transmission. My husband took the other car and stuck me with the stick shift.
swing shift
n. an evening work shift in a factory, usually from midafternoon to midnight. (see also graveyard shift.) My brother works the swing shift, so I never get to see him.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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