diff --git a/src/any.rs b/src/any.rs
index b6913517..3584a5e7 100644
--- a/src/any.rs
+++ b/src/any.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 use std::any::{type_name, Any as StdAny, TypeId};
 use std::fmt;
 
+pub type Variant = dyn Any;
+pub type Dynamic = Box<Variant>;
+
 pub trait Any: StdAny {
     fn type_id(&self) -> TypeId;
 
     fn type_name(&self) -> String;
 
-    fn box_clone(&self) -> Box<dyn Any>;
+    fn into_dynamic(&self) -> Dynamic;
 
     /// This type may only be implemented by `rhai`.
     #[doc(hidden)]
@@ -27,7 +30,7 @@ where
     }
 
     #[inline]
-    fn box_clone(&self) -> Box<dyn Any> {
+    fn into_dynamic(&self) -> Dynamic {
         Box::new(self.clone())
     }
 
@@ -36,15 +39,15 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-impl dyn Any {
+impl Variant {
     //#[inline]
-    // fn box_clone(&self) -> Box<dyn Any> {
-    //     Any::box_clone(self)
+    // fn into_dynamic(&self) -> Box<Variant> {
+    //     Any::into_dynamic(self)
     // }
     #[inline]
     pub fn is<T: Any>(&self) -> bool {
         let t = TypeId::of::<T>();
-        let boxed = <dyn Any as Any>::type_id(self);
+        let boxed = <Variant as Any>::type_id(self);
 
         t == boxed
     }
@@ -52,7 +55,7 @@ impl dyn Any {
     #[inline]
     pub fn downcast_ref<T: Any>(&self) -> Option<&T> {
         if self.is::<T>() {
-            unsafe { Some(&*(self as *const dyn Any as *const T)) }
+            unsafe { Some(&*(self as *const Variant as *const T)) }
         } else {
             None
         }
@@ -61,20 +64,20 @@ impl dyn Any {
     #[inline]
     pub fn downcast_mut<T: Any>(&mut self) -> Option<&mut T> {
         if self.is::<T>() {
-            unsafe { Some(&mut *(self as *mut dyn Any as *mut T)) }
+            unsafe { Some(&mut *(self as *mut Variant as *mut T)) }
         } else {
             None
         }
     }
 }
 
-impl Clone for Box<dyn Any> {
+impl Clone for Dynamic {
     fn clone(&self) -> Self {
-        Any::box_clone(self.as_ref() as &dyn Any)
+        Any::into_dynamic(self.as_ref() as &Variant)
     }
 }
 
-impl fmt::Debug for dyn Any {
+impl fmt::Debug for Variant {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
         f.pad("?")
     }
@@ -84,11 +87,11 @@ pub trait AnyExt: Sized {
     fn downcast<T: Any + Clone>(self) -> Result<Box<T>, Self>;
 }
 
-impl AnyExt for Box<dyn Any> {
+impl AnyExt for Dynamic {
     fn downcast<T: Any + Clone>(self) -> Result<Box<T>, Self> {
         if self.is::<T>() {
             unsafe {
-                let raw: *mut dyn Any = Box::into_raw(self);
+                let raw: *mut Variant = Box::into_raw(self);
                 Ok(Box::from_raw(raw as *mut T))
             }
         } else {
diff --git a/src/call.rs b/src/call.rs
index fa2439e9..d7565cd9 100644
--- a/src/call.rs
+++ b/src/call.rs
@@ -1,24 +1,22 @@
 //! Helper module which defines `FnArgs`
 //! to make function calling easier.
 
-use crate::any::Any;
+use crate::any::{Any, Variant};
 
 pub trait FunArgs<'a> {
-    fn into_vec(self) -> Vec<&'a mut dyn Any>;
+    fn into_vec(self) -> Vec<&'a mut Variant>;
 }
 
 macro_rules! impl_args {
     ($($p:ident),*) => {
-        impl<'a, $($p),*> FunArgs<'a> for ($(&'a mut $p,)*)
-        where
-            $($p: Any + Clone),*
+        impl<'a, $($p: Any + Clone),*> FunArgs<'a> for ($(&'a mut $p,)*)
         {
-            fn into_vec(self) -> Vec<&'a mut dyn Any> {
+            fn into_vec(self) -> Vec<&'a mut Variant> {
                 let ($($p,)*) = self;
 
                 #[allow(unused_variables, unused_mut)]
                 let mut v = Vec::new();
-                $(v.push($p as &mut dyn Any);)*
+                $(v.push($p as &mut Variant);)*
 
                 v
             }
diff --git a/src/engine.rs b/src/engine.rs
index fbdd9d6f..ae6220a7 100644
--- a/src/engine.rs
+++ b/src/engine.rs
@@ -6,13 +6,14 @@ use std::fmt;
 use std::ops::{Add, BitAnd, BitOr, BitXor, Div, Mul, Neg, Rem, Shl, Shr, Sub};
 use std::{convert::TryInto, sync::Arc};
 
-use crate::any::{Any, AnyExt};
+use crate::any::{Any, AnyExt, Dynamic, Variant};
 use crate::call::FunArgs;
 use crate::fn_register::{RegisterBoxFn, RegisterFn};
 use crate::parser::{lex, parse, Expr, FnDef, ParseError, Stmt, AST};
 use fmt::{Debug, Display};
 
-type Array = Vec<Box<dyn Any>>;
+pub type Array = Vec<Dynamic>;
+pub type FnCallArgs<'a> = Vec<&'a mut Variant>;
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub enum EvalAltResult {
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ pub enum EvalAltResult {
     ErrorCantOpenScriptFile(String),
     ErrorMalformedDotExpression,
     LoopBreak,
-    Return(Box<dyn Any>),
+    Return(Dynamic),
 }
 
 impl EvalAltResult {
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ pub struct FnSpec {
     args: Option<Vec<TypeId>>,
 }
 
-type IteratorFn = dyn Fn(&Box<dyn Any>) -> Box<dyn Iterator<Item = Box<dyn Any>>>;
+type IteratorFn = dyn Fn(&Dynamic) -> Box<dyn Iterator<Item = Dynamic>>;
 
 /// Rhai's engine type. This is what you use to run Rhai scripts
 ///
@@ -160,7 +161,7 @@ pub enum FnIntExt {
     Int(FnDef),
 }
 
-pub type FnAny = dyn Fn(Vec<&mut dyn Any>) -> Result<Box<dyn Any>, EvalAltResult>;
+pub type FnAny = dyn Fn(FnCallArgs) -> Result<Dynamic, EvalAltResult>;
 
 /// A type containing information about current scope.
 /// Useful for keeping state between `Engine` runs
@@ -176,7 +177,7 @@ pub type FnAny = dyn Fn(Vec<&mut dyn Any>) -> Result<Box<dyn Any>, EvalAltResult
 /// ```
 ///
 /// Between runs, `Engine` only remembers functions when not using own `Scope`.
-pub type Scope = Vec<(String, Box<dyn Any>)>;
+pub type Scope = Vec<(String, Dynamic)>;
 
 impl Engine {
     pub fn call_fn<'a, I, A, T>(&self, ident: I, args: A) -> Result<T, EvalAltResult>
@@ -195,11 +196,7 @@ impl Engine {
 
     /// Universal method for calling functions, that are either
     /// registered with the `Engine` or written in Rhai
-    pub fn call_fn_raw(
-        &self,
-        ident: String,
-        args: Vec<&mut dyn Any>,
-    ) -> Result<Box<dyn Any>, EvalAltResult> {
+    pub fn call_fn_raw(&self, ident: String, args: FnCallArgs) -> Result<Dynamic, EvalAltResult> {
         debug_println!(
             "Trying to call function {:?} with args {:?}",
             ident,
@@ -225,7 +222,7 @@ impl Engine {
             .ok_or_else(|| {
                 let typenames = args
                     .iter()
-                    .map(|x| (*(&**x).box_clone()).type_name())
+                    .map(|x| (*(&**x).into_dynamic()).type_name())
                     .collect::<Vec<_>>();
                 EvalAltResult::ErrorFunctionNotFound(format!(
                     "{} ({})",
@@ -260,7 +257,7 @@ impl Engine {
                         f.params
                             .iter()
                             .cloned()
-                            .zip(args.iter().map(|x| (&**x).box_clone())),
+                            .zip(args.iter().map(|x| (&**x).into_dynamic())),
                     );
 
                     match self.eval_stmt(&mut scope, &*f.body) {
@@ -288,13 +285,13 @@ impl Engine {
     /// Register an iterator adapter for a type.
     pub fn register_iterator<T: Any, F>(&mut self, f: F)
     where
-        F: 'static + Fn(&Box<dyn Any>) -> Box<dyn Iterator<Item = Box<dyn Any>>>,
+        F: 'static + Fn(&Dynamic) -> Box<dyn Iterator<Item = Dynamic>>,
     {
         self.type_iterators.insert(TypeId::of::<T>(), Arc::new(f));
     }
 
     /// Register a get function for a member of a registered type
-    pub fn register_get<T: Clone + Any, U: Clone + Any, F>(&mut self, name: &str, get_fn: F)
+    pub fn register_get<T: Any + Clone, U: Any + Clone, F>(&mut self, name: &str, get_fn: F)
     where
         F: 'static + Fn(&mut T) -> U,
     {
@@ -303,7 +300,7 @@ impl Engine {
     }
 
     /// Register a set function for a member of a registered type
-    pub fn register_set<T: Clone + Any, U: Clone + Any, F>(&mut self, name: &str, set_fn: F)
+    pub fn register_set<T: Any + Clone, U: Any + Clone, F>(&mut self, name: &str, set_fn: F)
     where
         F: 'static + Fn(&mut T, U) -> (),
     {
@@ -312,7 +309,7 @@ impl Engine {
     }
 
     /// Shorthand for registering both getters and setters
-    pub fn register_get_set<T: Clone + Any, U: Clone + Any, F, G>(
+    pub fn register_get_set<T: Any + Clone, U: Any + Clone, F, G>(
         &mut self,
         name: &str,
         get_fn: F,
@@ -328,9 +325,9 @@ impl Engine {
     fn get_dot_val_helper(
         &self,
         scope: &mut Scope,
-        this_ptr: &mut dyn Any,
+        this_ptr: &mut Variant,
         dot_rhs: &Expr,
-    ) -> Result<Box<dyn Any>, EvalAltResult> {
+    ) -> Result<Dynamic, EvalAltResult> {
         use std::iter::once;
 
         match *dot_rhs {
@@ -389,7 +386,7 @@ impl Engine {
         map: F,
     ) -> Result<(usize, T), EvalAltResult>
     where
-        F: FnOnce(&'a mut dyn Any) -> Result<T, EvalAltResult>,
+        F: FnOnce(&'a mut Variant) -> Result<T, EvalAltResult>,
     {
         scope
             .iter_mut()
@@ -405,7 +402,7 @@ impl Engine {
         scope: &mut Scope,
         id: &str,
         idx: &Expr,
-    ) -> Result<(usize, usize, Box<dyn Any>), EvalAltResult> {
+    ) -> Result<(usize, usize, Dynamic), EvalAltResult> {
         let idx_boxed = self
             .eval_expr(scope, idx)?
             .downcast::<i64>()
@@ -433,10 +430,10 @@ impl Engine {
         scope: &mut Scope,
         dot_lhs: &Expr,
         dot_rhs: &Expr,
-    ) -> Result<Box<dyn Any>, EvalAltResult> {
+    ) -> Result<Dynamic, EvalAltResult> {
         match *dot_lhs {
             Expr::Identifier(ref id) => {
-                let (sc_idx, mut target) = Self::search_scope(scope, id, |x| Ok(x.box_clone()))?;
+                let (sc_idx, mut target) = Self::search_scope(scope, id, |x| Ok(x.into_dynamic()))?;
                 let value = self.get_dot_val_helper(scope, target.as_mut(), dot_rhs);
 
                 // In case the expression mutated `target`, we need to reassign it because
@@ -461,10 +458,10 @@ impl Engine {
 
     fn set_dot_val_helper(
         &self,
-        this_ptr: &mut dyn Any,
+        this_ptr: &mut Variant,
         dot_rhs: &Expr,
-        mut source_val: Box<dyn Any>,
-    ) -> Result<Box<dyn Any>, EvalAltResult> {
+        mut source_val: Dynamic,
+    ) -> Result<Dynamic, EvalAltResult> {
         match *dot_rhs {
             Expr::Identifier(ref id) => {
                 let set_fn_name = "set$".to_string() + id;
@@ -495,11 +492,11 @@ impl Engine {
         scope: &mut Scope,
         dot_lhs: &Expr,
         dot_rhs: &Expr,
-        source_val: Box<dyn Any>,
-    ) -> Result<Box<dyn Any>, EvalAltResult> {
+        source_val: Dynamic,
+    ) -> Result<Dynamic, EvalAltResult> {
         match *dot_lhs {
             Expr::Identifier(ref id) => {
-                let (sc_idx, mut target) = Self::search_scope(scope, id, |x| Ok(x.box_clone()))?;
+                let (sc_idx, mut target) = Self::search_scope(scope, id, |x| Ok(x.into_dynamic()))?;
                 let value = self.set_dot_val_helper(target.as_mut(), dot_rhs, source_val);
 
                 // In case the expression mutated `target`, we need to reassign it because
@@ -522,7 +519,7 @@ impl Engine {
         }
     }
 
-    fn eval_expr(&self, scope: &mut Scope, expr: &Expr) -> Result<Box<dyn Any>, EvalAltResult> {
+    fn eval_expr(&self, scope: &mut Scope, expr: &Expr) -> Result<Dynamic, EvalAltResult> {
         match *expr {
             Expr::IntegerConstant(i) => Ok(Box::new(i)),
             Expr::FloatConstant(i) => Ok(Box::new(i)),
@@ -616,12 +613,12 @@ impl Engine {
         }
     }
 
-    fn eval_stmt(&self, scope: &mut Scope, stmt: &Stmt) -> Result<Box<dyn Any>, EvalAltResult> {
+    fn eval_stmt(&self, scope: &mut Scope, stmt: &Stmt) -> Result<Dynamic, EvalAltResult> {
         match *stmt {
             Stmt::Expr(ref e) => self.eval_expr(scope, e),
             Stmt::Block(ref b) => {
                 let prev_len = scope.len();
-                let mut last_result: Result<Box<dyn Any>, EvalAltResult> = Ok(Box::new(()));
+                let mut last_result: Result<Dynamic, EvalAltResult> = Ok(Box::new(()));
 
                 for s in b.iter() {
                     last_result = self.eval_stmt(scope, s);
@@ -801,7 +798,7 @@ impl Engine {
         ast: &AST,
     ) -> Result<T, EvalAltResult> {
         let AST(os, fns) = ast;
-        let mut x: Result<Box<dyn Any>, EvalAltResult> = Ok(Box::new(()));
+        let mut x: Result<Dynamic, EvalAltResult> = Ok(Box::new(()));
 
         for f in fns {
             let name = f.name.clone();
@@ -1093,8 +1090,14 @@ impl Engine {
         reg_func2x!(engine, "push", push, &mut Array, (), f32, f64, bool);
         reg_func2x!(engine, "push", push, &mut Array, (), String, Array, ());
 
-        engine.register_box_fn("pop", |list: &mut Array| list.pop().unwrap());
-        engine.register_box_fn("shift", |list: &mut Array| list.remove(0));
+        engine.register_dynamic_fn("pop", |list: &mut Array| list.pop().unwrap_or(Box::new(())));
+        engine.register_dynamic_fn("shift", |list: &mut Array| {
+            if list.len() > 0 {
+                list.remove(0)
+            } else {
+                Box::new(())
+            }
+        });
         engine.register_fn("len", |list: &mut Array| -> i64 {
             list.len().try_into().unwrap()
         });
@@ -1127,7 +1130,7 @@ impl Engine {
                 a.downcast_ref::<Range<i64>>()
                     .unwrap()
                     .clone()
-                    .map(|n| Box::new(n) as Box<dyn Any>),
+                    .map(|n| Box::new(n) as Dynamic),
             )
         });
 
diff --git a/src/fn_register.rs b/src/fn_register.rs
index d1bb6b6e..72bf4a7e 100644
--- a/src/fn_register.rs
+++ b/src/fn_register.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 use std::any::TypeId;
 
-use crate::any::Any;
-use crate::engine::{Engine, EvalAltResult};
+use crate::any::{Any, Dynamic};
+use crate::engine::{Engine, EvalAltResult, FnCallArgs};
 
 pub trait RegisterFn<FN, ARGS, RET> {
     fn register_fn(&mut self, name: &str, f: FN);
 }
 pub trait RegisterBoxFn<FN, ARGS> {
-    fn register_box_fn(&mut self, name: &str, f: FN);
+    fn register_dynamic_fn(&mut self, name: &str, f: FN);
 }
 
 pub struct Ref<A>(A);
@@ -23,14 +23,14 @@ macro_rules! def_register {
         def_register!(imp);
     };
     (imp $($par:ident => $mark:ty => $param:ty => $clone:expr),*) => {
-        impl<$($par,)* FN, RET> RegisterFn<FN, ($($mark,)*), RET> for Engine
-        where
+        impl<
             $($par: Any + Clone,)*
             FN: Fn($($param),*) -> RET + 'static,
-            RET: Any,
+            RET: Any
+        > RegisterFn<FN, ($($mark,)*), RET> for Engine
         {
             fn register_fn(&mut self, name: &str, f: FN) {
-                let fun = move |mut args: Vec<&mut dyn Any>| {
+                let fun = move |mut args: FnCallArgs| {
                     // Check for length at the beginning to avoid
                     // per-element bound checks.
                     if args.len() != count_args!($($par)*) {
@@ -48,19 +48,19 @@ macro_rules! def_register {
                     // Call the user-supplied function using ($clone) to
                     // potentially clone the value, otherwise pass the reference.
                     let r = f($(($clone)($par)),*);
-                    Ok(Box::new(r) as Box<dyn Any>)
+                    Ok(Box::new(r) as Dynamic)
                 };
                 self.register_fn_raw(name.to_owned(), Some(vec![$(TypeId::of::<$par>()),*]), Box::new(fun));
             }
         }
 
-        impl<$($par,)* FN> RegisterBoxFn<FN, ($($mark,)*)> for Engine
-        where
+        impl<
             $($par: Any + Clone,)*
-            FN: Fn($($param),*) -> Box<dyn Any> + 'static
+            FN: Fn($($param),*) -> Dynamic + 'static,
+        > RegisterBoxFn<FN, ($($mark,)*)> for Engine
         {
-            fn register_box_fn(&mut self, name: &str, f: FN) {
-                let fun = move |mut args: Vec<&mut dyn Any>| {
+            fn register_dynamic_fn(&mut self, name: &str, f: FN) {
+                let fun = move |mut args: FnCallArgs| {
                     // Check for length at the beginning to avoid
                     // per-element bound checks.
                     if args.len() != count_args!($($par)*) {
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index c002e814..841c56b2 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ mod engine;
 mod fn_register;
 mod parser;
 
-pub use any::Any;
-pub use engine::{Engine, EvalAltResult, Scope};
+pub use any::Dynamic;
+pub use engine::{Array, Engine, EvalAltResult, Scope};
 pub use fn_register::{RegisterBoxFn, RegisterFn};
 pub use parser::{ParseError, ParseErrorType, AST};