shuffle
shuffle — noun
1. when you give things a shuffle, you shift them from where they were to new spots
when you give things a shuffle, you shift them from where they were to new spots or a different arrangement.
Gabriela did a quick shuffle of the files after the meeting ended.
collocation: a shuffle of [papers/files/items]
A weekly shuffle of the shelves helps sell more products in the shop.
The librarian gave the books a thorough shuffle to fix the order.
After the warehouse shuffle, several items ended up in the wrong aisle.
- a shuffle of
- quick shuffle
- thorough shuffle
- desk shuffle
- shelf shuffle
- reorganisation
more formal; implies a planned change rather than a simple physical move
- rearrangement
focuses on changing the order, usually for clarity or convenience
- stillness
absence of any movement or reordering
Grammar Patterns
a shuffle of [something]
2. a change in which roles or jobs are reassigned among people in a group, especial
a change in which roles or jobs are reassigned among people in a group, especially in politics or business — for example, a cabinet shuffle or a management shake-up.
The prime minister carried out a cabinet shuffle after the election.
common in political contexts: cabinet shuffle / management shuffle
A shuffle of the sales team brought two new managers into the department.
The company announced a boardroom shuffle that surprised the investors.
Staff were nervous about the rumoured shuffle of departmental heads.
- cabinet shuffle
- management shuffle
- boardroom shuffle
- reshuffle
- major shuffle
- reshuffle
more common in political contexts; implies a broader or more formal reorganisation
- reorganisation
broader in scope; can cover structural changes beyond personnel
Grammar Patterns
a shuffle in/of [group]
Usage Note
Frequently appears in political and corporate contexts. A cabinet shuffle reassigns ministers without changing the ruling party. Distinguish from noun sense 1 (REARRANGEMENT), which refers to physical objects rather than people's roles.
3. in card games, a shuffle is the act of taking all the cards and rearranging them
in card games, a shuffle is the act of taking all the cards and rearranging them so that their order becomes random and unknown to everyone before the next deal.
Ryo gave the deck a quick shuffle before dealing the cards.
pattern: give [deck] a shuffle
A good shuffle makes sure each player gets a fair hand.
The dealer performed an expert one-handed shuffle that impressed everyone at the table.
After the shuffle, Christopher picked up his cards and smiled at his hand.
- give a shuffle
- deck shuffle
- fair shuffle
- quick shuffle
- expert shuffle
- mix-up
less specific; does not imply the purpose of fair dealing in a game
Grammar Patterns
give [something] a shuffle
Usage Note
Can also apply to dominoes, tiles, or other game pieces that need randomising. The related verb form (verb sense 4) is more frequent in everyday speech. Distinguish from the random-play sense (noun sense 4), which refers only to digital media.
Common Mistakes
4. a setting on music apps, phones, and streaming services that picks tracks in an
a setting on music apps, phones, and streaming services that picks tracks in an unpredictable sequence instead of following the playlist order you set.
Esme put her playlist on shuffle for the long drive home.
common phrase: on shuffle / put on shuffle
The shuffle mode played three slow songs in a row by chance.
I prefer shuffle when I cannot decide which album to listen to.
The music app's shuffle algorithm kept skipping my favourite tracks.
- on shuffle
- shuffle mode
- shuffle feature
- put on shuffle
- shuffle play
- shuffle algorithm
- random play
more technical; used in device settings menus rather than casual speech
- random mode
also found in device settings; sounds less natural in everyday conversation
- sequential play
playing songs in the original list order
Grammar Patterns
on shuffle
put [playlist/music] on shuffle
Usage Note
Usually uncountable in technology contexts ('put it on shuffle'). Countable uses like 'give it a shuffle' are rare and informal. Not used for physical media like CDs or vinyl records — only for digital playlists and libraries.
5. a dragging style of walking where your feet slide forward without leaving the gr
a dragging style of walking where your feet slide forward without leaving the ground, making a soft scraping sound, often because of old age, tiredness, or ill-fitting shoes.
The old dog walked with a slow shuffle across the kitchen floor.
describes walking style: a slow shuffle
We could hear the shuffle of bedroom slippers coming down the hall.
After standing in line for hours, the crowd began to move with a tired shuffle.
The nurse recognised her patient's shuffle from the end of the corridor.
Felix walked with a shuffle because his new shoes were too tight.
- slow shuffle
- tired shuffle
- shuffle of feet
- shuffle of slippers
- old man's shuffle
- walk with a shuffle
Grammar Patterns
a/the shuffle of [feet/slippers/steps]
Usage Note
Can be used as both a countable noun ('a slow shuffle') and with 'the shuffle of' + noun to describe the sound. Commonly pairs with footwear ('slippers', 'shoes') and body parts ('feet'). The verb sense (verb sense 1) is more common in everyday speech.
shuffle — verb
1. to walk by sliding your feet along the ground without lifting them properly, usu
to walk by sliding your feet along the ground without lifting them properly, usually because you are tired, old, injured, or wearing loose footwear.
The exhausted hikers shuffled into the hut and collapsed on the floor.
pattern: shuffle + prepositional phrase (direction)
Salma shuffled across the room in her mother's oversized slippers.
The elderly gentleman shuffled slowly towards the park bench.
After the marathon, the runners shuffled to the water station with heavy legs.
Christopher shuffled along the icy path, careful not to slip.
- shuffle across
- shuffle along
- shuffle towards
- shuffle into
- shuffle slowly
- shuffle tiredly
- drag oneself
emphasises the effort and reluctance more than the physical foot movement
- scuff
focuses on the sound of feet scraping the ground; often implies careless walking
- stride
to walk with long, confident steps, lifting feet fully
Grammar Patterns
shuffle + adverb/preposition (along, across, towards, into)
Usage Note
Intransitive only — you shuffle along, across, or towards somewhere, never 'shuffle something' in this sense. The direction or location is usually specified. Distinguish from verb sense 2 (FIDGET), where the person stays in one place.
Common Mistakes
2. to make small restless movements with your feet or body while keeping the same s
to make small restless movements with your feet or body while keeping the same spot, usually because you feel nervous, embarrassed, bored, or impatient in a social situation.
Rachid shuffled his feet under the table during the awkward silence.
common phrase: shuffle one's feet (nervous movement)
The schoolgirl shuffled uncomfortably in her seat when the teacher called her name.
Emily shuffled on the doorstep, unsure whether to knock again.
Tamar shuffled her bottom on the hard wooden bench during the long ceremony.
The boy shuffled from one foot to the other while waiting for his turn.
- shuffle one's feet
- shuffle uncomfortably
- shuffle nervously
- shuffle in one's seat
- shuffle on the spot
- shuffle from foot to foot
- sit still
to remain completely motionless
Grammar Patterns
shuffle in/on [seat/chair]
shuffle one's feet
Usage Note
Unlike verb sense 1 (DRAG FEET), this sense involves no forward movement — the person stays in the same physical location. Often describes the body language of nervousness, impatience, or embarrassment in social situations.
Common Mistakes
3. to move papers, documents, or similar items around your desk without actually wo
to move papers, documents, or similar items around your desk without actually working on them, in order to give the impression that you are busy.
The clerk shuffled papers on his desk whenever the boss walked past.
collocation: shuffle papers (pretend to work)
Felix shuffled the documents into a pile, though he had not read a single page.
The intern spent the afternoon shuffling files between cabinets to look occupied.
Lakshmi shuffled the same three reports around her desk for the entire morning.
- shuffle papers
- shuffle documents
- shuffle files
- shuffle around
- look busy by shuffling
- busy oneself
more general and less negative; can include genuine activity
- fiddle
implies nervous or aimless handling, not necessarily to appear busy
Grammar Patterns
shuffle + [papers/files/documents]
Usage Note
Carries a mildly negative or critical tone — the person is avoiding real work. The object is usually stationery or office items. Compare with noun sense 1 (REARRANGEMENT), which can be a neutral or positive act of organising.
4. in a card game, to rearrange the deck so that the cards fall in no particular or
in a card game, to rearrange the deck so that the cards fall in no particular order, ensuring each player receives a fair hand from an unknown arrangement.
Ryo shuffled the deck three times before dealing cards to the players.
pattern: shuffle + deck/cards
It is your turn to shuffle, so please mix the cards well.
The dealer shuffled and then asked Christopher to cut the deck.
Nila watched her grandfather shuffle the cards with surprising speed.
The children learned how to shuffle by watching a video on their tablet.
- shuffle the deck
- shuffle the cards
- shuffle and deal
- cut after shuffling
- learn to shuffle
- stack
to arrange cards dishonestly in a desired order, the opposite of randomising
Grammar Patterns
shuffle + [deck/cards]
shuffle (no object)
Usage Note
Can be used transitively ('shuffle the deck') or intransitively ('It's your turn to shuffle — go ahead.'). In informal card games, the intransitive use is very common. Distinguish from verb sense 5 (JUMBLE), which applies to any items, not just game pieces.
Common Mistakes
5. to mix a collection of items into a disordered state, losing any previous arrang
to mix a collection of items into a disordered state, losing any previous arrangement or organisation they had.
The wind shuffled the stack of newspapers all over the garden.
pattern: shuffle + items + location
Élise shuffled all the photographs together on the living room floor.
The toddler shuffled the coloured blocks into a messy pile on the carpet.
Pim shuffled the receipts and notes together, making it hard to find anything later.
- shuffle together
- shuffle up
- shuffle into a mess
- shuffle randomly
- sort
to arrange items into an organised order, the opposite of jumbling
Grammar Patterns
shuffle + [things] + (up/together)
Usage Note
Unlike verb sense 4 (MIX CARDS), this sense does not imply a deliberate, orderly randomisation for a game — it simply means creating disorder. Can apply to any physical items: papers, clothes, toys, tools, etc. Frequently used with 'up' or 'together' for emphasis.
shuffle off
phrasal verbto get rid of or avoid a responsibility, task, or unpleasant situation by passing it to someone else or by moving away quickly.
The manager tried to shuffle off the blame onto his junior staff.
Ryo shuffled off his duties whenever a difficult client called.
shuffle through
phrasal verbto quickly look through a pile of papers, cards, or other flat items by lifting and moving them with your hand, usually searching for something.
Gabriela shuffled through the stack of documents looking for the contract.
The receptionist shuffled through the appointment cards on her desk.
Word family
- shufflernounC1
- reshuffleverbB2
- reshufflenounB2
- shufflingadjectiveB2
- shufflingnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/4
All four words describe handling playing cards in a game, but they refer to different stages and actions. Shuffle specifically means randomising the order of the entire deck by moving cards around in your hands or on the table. Mix is a much broader word that covers any combining of items; while you can 'mix the cards', it does not convey the distinctive hand movements of shuffling. Deal means to distribute cards to players one by one — this happens after shuffling. Cut means to divide the shuffled deck into two parts and swap their positions, usually done by a player who did not shuffle. In a typical game, the sequence is: shuffle → cut → deal. A common learner mistake is to say 'shuffle the cards to each player' (which should be 'deal'), or 'mix the deck' (which sounds unnatural to native speakers in a card-game context — 'shuffle' is the expected word).
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'shuffle' first appeared in English around the 1500s. It likely comes from Low German or Dutch 'schuffelen', which meant 'to walk with dragging feet' or 'to push clumsily'. This original walking sense is still alive today (verb sense 1). The card-playing meaning developed in the 1600s, when people began applying the idea of moving things around to the idea of mixing cards to randomise their order. The modern technology sense — playing songs in random order — is the newest addition, dating to the early 2000s with the rise of digital music players like the iPod Shuffle.