shift into gear

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   to move the gear lever in a vehicle so that it starts working in a particular gear

   Grammar: Used without an object: the driver shifts into gear; you can add a gear word after into, as in shift into first gear.

   Patterns

   • shift into gear
   • shift into first/second/third gear

   She started the engine and shifted into gear.

   You need to shift into gear before you pull away.

   He shifted into second gear as the road began to climb.

2. 2phrasefixed phrasefigurative

   to start working effectively or to begin to make real progress

   Grammar: Often used about a project, team, or activity that has been slow and then speeds up.

   Patterns

   • something shifts into gear
   • shift into gear

   The campaign finally shifted into gear after the first week.

   Once the new manager arrived, the whole department shifted into gear.

   The economy shifted into gear in the spring.

Common combinations

shift into first gear

He shifted into first gear and drove slowly out of the parking lot.

shift into reverse

She shifted into reverse to back out of the driveway.

shift into high gear

The team shifted into high gear to meet the deadline.

shift gears

You have to shift gears smoothly on steep hills.

Synonyms and how they differ

change gear

This is the usual British phrase; shift into gear is more common in American English.

get going

This means to start moving or making progress, but it does not refer to the gear lever in a car.

Word family

gear noun

one of the parts in a vehicle that control speed and power

gearbox noun

the metal case that contains the gears in a vehicle

Commonly confused: shift into gear or change gear?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “shift into gear”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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