shift gears — phrasal 1. : to change the gear rotating the transmission shaft of an automobile 2. : to make a change from one method, tempo, or approach to another shifted gears in the middle of his speech * * * shift gears phrase to start thinking or acting… … Useful english dictionary
shift gears — to suddenly change what you are doing. I d like to shift gears now and talk about a personal concern. Etymology: based on the idea that a vehicle will change speed when you change gears (= machine parts) … New idioms dictionary
shift gears — to start thinking or acting in a new way, especially more quickly than before The team will need to shift gears and play at a higher level than before … English dictionary
shift gears — change gears, change to the appropriate gear (as in a vehicle) … English contemporary dictionary
shift gears — phrasal to make a change … New Collegiate Dictionary
shift gears — verb a) To change the gear by which motion is transmitted from a powered shaft to another shaft, especially in a motor vehicle. b) To change pace or mode of operation … Wiktionary
shift — shiftingly, adv. shiftingness, n. /shift/, v.t. 1. to put (something) aside and replace it by another or others; change or exchange: to shift friends; to shift ideas. 2. to transfer from one place, position, person, etc., to another: to shift the … Universalium
shift — [[t]ʃɪ̱ft[/t]] ♦♦♦ shifts, shifting, shifted 1) V ERG If you shift something or if it shifts, it moves slightly. [V n prep/adv] He stopped, shifting his cane to his left hand... [V prep/adv] He shifted from foot to foot... The entire pile shifted … English dictionary
shift — I UK [ʃɪft] / US verb Word forms shift : present tense I/you/we/they shift he/she/it shifts present participle shifting past tense shifted past participle shifted *** 1) [intransitive/transitive] if an idea, attitude, or plan shifts, or if… … English dictionary
shift — shift1 [ ʃıft ] verb *** 1. ) intransitive or transitive to move your body or a part of your body slightly, for example because you are bored: The children are shifting uncomfortably in their seats. shift your weight: Martha shifted her weight… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
shift — 01. Be careful when you re driving the truck so that the load doesn t [shift]. 02. You should [shift] your weight onto your front leg as you follow through on your slapshot. 03. Public opinion regarding the rights of homosexuals has [shifted] a… … Grammatical examples in English
