shape-up
noun
an act or instance of shaping up.
shape-up
American
[shayp-uhp]
/ ˈʃeɪpˌʌp /
Or
shapeup
noun
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an act or instance of shaping up.
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a former method of hiring longshoremen in which the applicants appeared daily at the docks and a union hiring boss chose those who would be given work.
shape up
British
verb
-
informal to proceed or develop satisfactorily
-
informal to develop a definite or proper form
noun
shape up
Idioms
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Turn out, develop; see take shape .
-
Improve so as to meet a standard, as in The coach told the team that they'd better shape up or they'd be at the bottom of the league . This usage was first recorded in 1938.
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shape up or ship out Behave yourself or be forced to leave, as in The new supervisor told Tom he'd have to shape up or ship out . This expression originated in the 1940s, during World War II, as a threat that if one didn't behave in an appropriate military manner one would be sent overseas to a combat zone. After the war it was transferred to other situations calling for improved performance.
Etymology
Origin of shape-up
First recorded in 1940–45; noun use of verb phrase shape up
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
One of the substantial victories of the 1934 Bay Area strike was the replacement of the shape-up system—the informal hustle for day labor work—with a union-operated hiring hall that worked to racially integrate the workforce.
From Salon ● Apr. 11, 2019
Gonzalez explained he usually gets a haircut on Thursday or Friday and a shape-up on Monday, but he recently went a week without anything.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 27, 2018
"OK then. Come in next Monday for shape-up."
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2014
Using the refrain “mudanzas,” or movers, they hawk their services from the cabs of their trucks or windows of their vans — a shape-up on wheels.
From New York Times ● Mar. 26, 2012
"Naw, naw, he can get one. I was just gonna get a shape-up, but I can pass."
From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds
Investors are set to hear from bank executives in the coming weeks at several industry conferences, and they may offer guidance on how they expect the IPO market to shape up this year.
From Barron's ● May 21, 2026
New contractors like Anduril will make a difference, especially if Congress prods the Pentagon to shape up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
Next year could shape up to be yet another big one for stock investors, analysts say.
From BBC ● Dec. 31, 2025
But experts say that, despite the auspicious start, it’s still too soon to say how the rest of California’s traditional rainy season will shape up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 24, 2025
“Of course, Henry says I need to shape up or ship out.”
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
