2 VERB If someone's opinion, a situation, or a policy shifts or is shifted , it changes slightly. □ [V ] Attitudes to mental illness have shifted in recent years. □ [be V -ed prep/adv] The emphasis should be shifted more towards Parliament. [Also V adv] ● N‑COUNT Shift is also a noun. □ [+ in ] …a shift in government policy.
3 VERB If someone shifts the responsibility or blame for something onto you, they unfairly make you responsible or make people blame you for it, instead of them. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n prep] It was a vain attempt to shift the responsibility for the murder to somebody else.
4 VERB If a shop or company shifts goods, they sell goods that are difficult to sell. [BRIT ] □ [V n] Some suppliers were selling at a loss to shift stock.
5 VERB If you shift gears in a car, you put the car into a different gear. [AM ] in BRIT, use change 6 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] If a group of factory workers, nurses, or other people work shifts , they work for a set period before being replaced by another group, so that there is always a group working. Each of these set periods is called a shift . You can also use shift to refer to a group of workers who work together on a particular shift. □ His father worked shifts in a steel mill.
7 → see also shifting
▸ shift down PHRASAL VERB When you shift down , you move the gear lever in the vehicle you are driving in order to use a lower gear. [AM ] in BRIT, use change down
▸ shift up PHRASAL VERB When you shift up , you move the gear lever in the vehicle you are driving in order to use a higher gear. [AM ] in BRIT, use change up SYNONYMS shift VERB
1
move: She moved the sheaf of papers into position.
budge: The window refused to budge.
2
change: In the union office, the mood gradually changed from resignation to rage.
alter: They have never altered their programmes by a single day.
revise: He soon came to revise his opinion of the profession.
shift|ing /ʃ I ft I ŋ/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Shifting is used to describe something which is made up of parts that are continuously moving and changing position in relation to other parts. □ The Croatian town of Ilok is a classic case of shifting populations.
2 → see also shift
shift|less /ʃ I ftləs/ ADJ If you describe someone as shiftless , you mean that they are lazy and have no desire to achieve anything. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the lives of two shiftless, violent ex-convicts in 1950s America.
shifty /ʃ I fti/ ADJ Someone who looks shifty gives the impression of being dishonest. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He had a shifty face and previous convictions.
shih-tzu /ʃ I tsuː / (shih-tzus ) also Shih Tzu N‑COUNT A shih-tzu is a breed of small dog with short legs and long silky hair.
shil|ling /ʃ I l I ŋ/ (shillings ) N‑COUNT A shilling was a unit of money that was used in Britain until 1971 which was the equivalent of 5p. There were twenty shillings in a pound.
shilly-shally /ʃ I li ʃæ li/ (shilly-shallies , shilly-shallying , shilly-shallied ) VERB [usu cont] If you say that someone is shilly-shallying , you disapprove of the fact that they are hesitating when they should make a decision. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V ] It's time for Brooke to stop shilly-shallying.
shim|mer /ʃ I mə r / (shimmers , shimmering , shimmered ) VERB If something shimmers , it shines with a faint, unsteady light or has an unclear, unsteady appearance. □ [V ] The lights shimmered on the water. ● N‑SING Shimmer is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …a shimmer of starlight.
shim|my /ʃ I mi/ (shimmies , shimmying , shimmied ) VERB If you shimmy , you dance or move in a way that involves shaking your hips and shoulders from side to side. □ [V ] Dancers shimmied in the streets of New Orleans.
shin /ʃ I n/ (shins ) N‑COUNT Your shins are the front parts of your legs between your knees and your ankles. □ She punched him on the nose and kicked him in the shins.
shin|dig /ʃ I nd I g/ (shindigs ) N‑COUNT A shindig is a large, noisy, enjoyable party. [INFORMAL ]
shine /ʃa I n/ (shines , shining , shined , shone )
1 VERB When the sun or a light shines , it gives out bright light. □ [V ] It is a mild morning and the sun is shining. □ [V ] A few scattered lights shone on the horizon.
2 VERB If you shine a torch or other light somewhere, you point it there, so that you can see something when it is dark. □ [V n prep] One of the men shone a torch in his face. □ [V n] The man walked slowly towards her, shining the flashlight.
3 VERB Something that shines is very bright and clear because it is reflecting light. □ [V ] Her blue eyes shone and caught the light. □ [V -ing] …shining aluminum machines.
4 N‑SING Something that has a shine is bright and clear because it is reflecting light. □ This gel gives a beautiful shine to the hair.
5 VERB If you shine a wooden, leather, or metal object, you make it bright by rubbing or polishing it. □ [V n] Let him dust and shine the furniture.