shift one's ground

shift one's ground
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.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • shift one's ground — To change one s standpoint in a situation or argument • • • Main Entry: ↑ground shift one s ground (usu figurative) To change the position one has taken, eg in a discussion • • • Main Entry: ↑shift * * * say or write something that contradicts… …   Useful english dictionary

  • shift one's ground — ► shift one s ground change one s position in an argument. Main Entry: ↑shift …   English terms dictionary

  • shift one's ground — change one s position in an argument. → shift …   English new terms dictionary

  • shift one's ground — change position …   English contemporary dictionary

  • shift — ► VERB 1) move or change from one position to another. 2) Brit. informal move quickly. 3) (shift oneself) Brit. informal move or rouse oneself. 4) Brit. remove (a stain). 5) informal sell (goods) quickly or in large quantities. 6) …   English terms dictionary

  • ground — ground1 [ground] n. [ME grund < OE, ground, bottom, akin to Ger grund, ON grunnr: for IE base see GRIND] 1. a) Obs. the lowest part, base, or bottom of anything b) the bottom of a body of water 2. the surface of the earth, specif. the solid… …   English World dictionary

  • shift — v. & n. v. 1 intr. & tr. change or move or cause to change or move from one position to another. 2 tr. remove, esp. with effort (washing won t shift the stains). 3 sl. a intr. hurry (we ll have to shift!). b tr. consume (food or drink) hastily or …   Useful english dictionary

  • ground — I. /graʊnd / (say grownd) noun 1. the earth s solid surface; firm or dry land: fall to the ground. 2. earth or soil: stony ground. 3. land having a special character: rising ground. 4. (often plural) a tract of land occupied, or appropriated to a …  

  • shift — [ʃɪft] verb 1》 move or change or cause to move or change from one position to another.     ↘move one s body slightly due to discomfort. 2》 change the emphasis, direction, or focus of: she s shifting the blame on to me. 3》 Brit. informal move… …   English new terms dictionary

  • ground — ground1 groundable, adj. groundably, adv. groundedly, adv. groundedness, n. groundward, groundwards, adv., adj. /grownd/, n. 1. the solid surface of the earth; firm or dry land: to fall to the ground. 2. earth or soil: stony ground. 3. land hav …   Universalium

  • ground — I [[t]graʊnd[/t]] n. 1) the solid surface of the earth; firm or dry land 2) earth or soil: stony ground[/ex] 3) land having an indicated character: rising ground[/ex] 4) Often, grounds. a tract of land appropriated to a special use: picnic… …   From formal English to slang

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