The term 'change gears' can be broken down into four crossword solutions: upshift (7 letters), SHIFT (5 letters), ALTER (5 letters), and HILL (4 letters). Upshift is a term used in the automotive industry to describe the process of changing to a higher gear, while SHIFT is a more general term for changing gears. ALTER is another word for change, and HILL is a metaphor for a challenge or obstacle that requires a change in gears.