To make shift

To make shift
Shift Shift, n. [Cf. Icel. skipti. See {Shift}, v. t.] 1. The act of shifting. Specifically: (a) The act of putting one thing in the place of another, or of changing the place of a thing; change; substitution. [1913 Webster]

My going to Oxford was not merely for shift of air. --Sir H. Wotton. [1913 Webster] (b) A turning from one thing to another; hence, an expedient tried in difficulty; often, an evasion; a trick; a fraud. ``Reduced to pitiable shifts.'' --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

I 'll find a thousand shifts to get away. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Little souls on little shifts rely. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. Something frequently shifted; especially, a woman's under-garment; a chemise. [1913 Webster]

3. The change of one set of workmen for another; hence, a spell, or turn, of work; also, a set of workmen who work in turn with other sets; as, a night shift. [1913 Webster]

4. In building, the extent, or arrangement, of the overlapping of plank, brick, stones, etc., that are placed in courses so as to break joints. [1913 Webster]

5. (Mining) A breaking off and dislocation of a seam; a fault. [1913 Webster]

6. (Mus.) A change of the position of the hand on the finger board, in playing the violin. [1913 Webster]

{To make shift}, to contrive or manage in an exigency. ``I shall make shift to go without him.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

[They] made a shift to keep their own in Ireland. --Milton. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • make shift — ► make shift dated manage or contrive to do something. Main Entry: ↑shift …   English terms dictionary

  • make|shift|y — «MAYK SHIHF tee», adjective. = makeshift. (Cf. ↑makeshift) …   Useful english dictionary

  • make|shift — «MAYK SHIHFT», noun, adjective. –n. something made to use for a time instead of the right thing; temporary substitute: »When the electric lights went out, we used candles as a makeshift. Spools and buttons were the child s makeshifts for toys.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • To make shift — make make, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {made} (m[=a]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {making}.] [OE. maken, makien, AS. macian; akin to OS. mak?n, OFries. makia, D. maken, G. machen, OHG. mahh?n to join, fit, prepare, make, Dan. mage. Cf. {Match} an equal.] 1. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • make shift — make do, manage to the best of one s ability …   English contemporary dictionary

  • make shift — dated manage or contrive to do something. → shift …   English new terms dictionary

  • make shift — phrasal to manage with difficulty …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • make shift — phrasal : to try to get along or succeed under difficulties or with inferior means * * * do what one wants to do in spite of not having ideal conditions …   Useful english dictionary

  • make·shift — /ˈmeıkˌʃıft/ adj : used as a usually rough and temporary replacement for something A large box served as a makeshift table …   Useful english dictionary

  • shift — shift; shift·abil·i·ty; shift·able; shift·er; shift·ful; shift·i·ly; shift·i·ness; shift·less; shift·man; make·shift; blue·shift·ed; make·shift·ness; shift·less·ly; shift·less·ness; …   English syllables

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