shuffle

[shuhf-uhl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shuffle ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), shuf·fled, shuf·fling.

to walk without lifting the feet or with clumsy steps and a shambling gait.

to scrape the feet over the floor in dancing.

to move clumsily (usually followed by into): to shuffle into one's clothes.

to act underhandedly or evasively with respect to a stated situation (often followed by in, into, or out of): to shuffle out of one's responsibilities.

to intermix so as to change the relative positions of cards in a pack.

verb (used with object), shuf·fled, shuf·fling.

to move (one's feet) along the ground or floor without lifting them.

to perform (a dance) with such movements.

to move (an object or objects) this way and that.

to put, thrust, or bring trickily, evasively, or haphazardly (usually followed by in, into, out, etc.): to shuffle one's way into favor.

to mix (cards in a pack) so as to change the relative positions.

to jumble together, mix, or interchange the positions of (objects).

noun

a scraping movement; dragging gait.

an evasive trick; evasion.

an act or instance of shuffling.

Cards.

a shuffling of cards in a pack.
the right or turn to shuffle preparatory to dealing: You win the shuffle.

a dance in which the feet are shuffled along the floor.

Verb Phrases

shuffle off,

to thrust aside; get rid of.
to move away by, or as if by, shuffling: They shuffled off to school with little enthusiasm.

Origin of shuffle

1525–35; < Low German schuffeln to walk clumsily or with dragging feet, mix (cards); akin to shovel

Related formsre·shuf·fle, verb re·shuf·fled, re·shuf·fling, nounun·shuf·fled, adjective

Synonyms for shuffle

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR shuffle ON THESAURUS.COM

6. drag, scrape, scuff.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for shuffle

drag, straggle, limp, stumble, scuff, scuffle, scrape, muddle, trail, pad, shamble, disorder, disturb, confuse, shift, disarray, disorganize, discompose, intermix, change

Examples from the Web for shuffle

Contemporary Examples of shuffle

Obama has latched on to the failure of the embargo to topple the Castros as justification to shuffle the deck.
Obama’s One Hand Clap With Castro
Doug McIntyre
December 24, 2014
Near the door thousands of stilettos slide and shuffle on black ice, somehow always keeping their immaculate balance.
Russia’s Gold Digger Academy
Peter Pomerantsev
November 11, 2014
He instead had to work for it, fake it, steal it, copy it, shuffle and fight.
The Stacks: How Leonard Chess Helped Make Muddy Waters
Alex Belth
August 2, 2014
One thing is clear: The shuffle to replace Cantor has already begun.
Horse-Trading to Replace Eric Cantor as House Majority Leader Begins
Ron Christie
June 11, 2014
He started to shuffle the cards and Mortson pulled up a chair.
Gordie Howe Hockey’s Greatest War Horse
W.C. Heinz
May 31, 2014

Historical Examples of shuffle

And forthwith, as one who may not be resisted, he swept up the cards and began to shuffle.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
Whatever explanation of our sufferings and failures there may be we must not shuffle them off on God.
The Conquest of Fear
Basil King
The cornet and bass-viol had put in an appearance, but the pianist had been lost in the shuffle.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
He does not shuffle or prevaricate, dodge or skulk; but is honest, upright, and straightforward.
Self-Help
Samuel Smiles
Well, if this particular deal had failed, he must shuffle the cards and deal again.
Jan and Her Job
L. Allen Harker

British Dictionary definitions for shuffle

shuffle

verb

to walk or move (the feet) with a slow dragging motion

to change the position of (something), esp quickly or in order to deceive others

(tr) to mix together in a careless mannerhe shuffled the papers nervously

to mix up (cards in a pack) to change their order

(intr) to behave in an awkward, evasive, or underhand manner; equivocate

(when intr, often foll by into or out of) to move or cause to move clumsilyhe shuffled out of the door

(intr) to dance the shuffle

noun

the act or an instance of shuffling

a dance or dance step with short dragging movements of the feet

Derived Formsshuffler, noun

Word Origin for shuffle

C16: probably from Low German schüffeln; see shove

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for shuffle

1530s, put together hastily," probably from Middle English shovelen "to move with dragging feet," itself probably a frequentative form of shoven (see shove (v.)). Or perhaps from Low German schuffeln "to walk clumsily, deal dishonestly."

Of playing cards, first recorded 1560s. Meaning "walk slowly without lifting the feet" is from 1570s. Meaning "push along gradually" is from 1560s. Meaning "move from one place to another" is from 1690s. Meaning "do a shuffle dance" is from 1818. Related: Shuffled; shuffling. Shuffle off "get rid of, dispose of" is from Shakespeare (1601).

1620s, "an evasion, trick;" 1640s, "a wavering or undecided course of behavior meant to deceive;" from shuffle (v.). Meaning "a slow, heavy, irregular manner of moving" is from 1847; that of "a dance in which the feet are shuffled" is from 1640s. Meaning "a change in the order of playing-cards" is from 1650s. Phrase lost in the shuffle is from 1930.