drive smb. to the last shifts

редк.

(drive (put или reduce) smb. to the last shifts (тж. drive, put или reduce smb. to his или the shifts))

доводить кого-л. до крайности (обыкн. употр. с прил. hard, miserable, pitiful, etc.)

He was still often reduced to pitiable shifts. (Th. Macaulay, ‘Biographical Essays’, ‘Oliver Goldsmith’) — Голдсмит все еще нередко оказывался на краю нищеты.

When gentlemen resort to such arguments, it shows that they must be sorely put to their shifts. (G. S. Faber, ‘Provincial Letters’, OED) — Джентльмены прибегают к подобным аргументам, только будучи доведены до крайности.