shift for

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.

See also: for, shift

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

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.

See also: for, shift

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.