To shift the scene

Shift Shift (sh[i^]ft), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shifted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Shifting}.] [OE. shiften, schiften, to divide, change, remove. AS. sciftan to divide; akin to LG. & D. schiften to divide, distinguish, part Icel. skipta to divide, to part, to shift, to change, Dan skifte, Sw. skifta, and probably to Icel. sk[=i]fa to cut into slices, as n., a slice, and to E. shive, sheave, n., shiver, n.] 1. To divide; to distribute; to apportion. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

To which God of his bounty would shift Crowns two of flowers well smelling. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

2. To change the place of; to move or remove from one place to another; as, to shift a burden from one shoulder to another; to shift the blame. [1913 Webster]

Hastily he schifte him[self]. --Piers Plowman. [1913 Webster]

Pare saffron between the two St. Mary's days, Or set or go shift it that knowest the ways. --Tusser. [1913 Webster]

3. To change the position of; to alter the bearings of; to turn; as, to shift the helm or sails. [1913 Webster]

Carrying the oar loose, [they] shift it hither and thither at pleasure. --Sir W. Raleigh. [1913 Webster]

4. To exchange for another of the same class; to remove and to put some similar thing in its place; to change; as, to shift the clothes; to shift the scenes. [1913 Webster]

I would advise you to shift a shirt. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. To change the clothing of; -- used reflexively. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

As it were to ride day and night; and . . . not to have patience to shift me. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

6. To put off or out of the way by some expedient. ``I shifted him away.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{To shift off}, to delay; to defer; to put off; to lay aside.

{To shift the scene}, to change the locality or the surroundings, as in a play or a story. [1913 Webster]

Shift the scene for half an hour; Time and place are in thy power. --Swift. [1913 Webster]