shift (redirected from shift key)

shift for oneself and fend for oneself

to 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.

See also: oneself

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.

See also: 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.

See also: stick

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Move/Shift your arse!  (very informal!)

something that you say to tell someone to hurry or to get out of your way Shift your arse! We're late.

See also: move

shift your ground

if you shift your ground in an argument or a discussion, you start to express a different opinion He's impossible to argue with because he keeps shifting his ground.

See Move arse!

See also: ground

the graveyard shift

a period of time late at night, when people have to work, often in hospitals or factories I'm working the graveyard shift this week.

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shift gears also switch 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)

See also: gear