Can you PLEASE (do something)

This is a friendly, casual way of asking someone to do something that they don't want to do.

When you pronounce this phrase, you put strong stress on the word "please", and extend the length of the word:

Can you pleeeease help me with this?

If you don't stress the word "please", this question can sound angry or annoyed. For example, if you stress the word "stop", this sentence sounds angry:

Can you please stop?

a shift

A "shift" is the period of time that an employee has to work. Jobs that have "shifts" are usually paid by the hour. One shift is usually between 4 to 16 hours, and can sometimes have a name like:

• the late shift
• the morning shift
• the graveyard shift (a creative name for a shift that starts late at night and goes until early morning)

In a job with shifts, you might hear an employee say:

"I'm working the late shift tomorrow."

cover (someone's) shift

When you "cover (someone's) shift", it means that you work that shift instead of them.

I'm covering Penny's shift tonight, so I won't be home until late.

This is similar to covering for someone while they're out, but you usually "cover for (someone)" in an office job where people each have certain responsibilities. You "cover a shift" in a restaurant, retail, or other job that just needs people to work for certain hours.