get with the program

present singular third person gets with the program · participle present getting with the program · past got with the program · participle past gotten with the program · alternative UK get with the programme

1. USidiomaticinformalTo become organized, current, or aware; to adopt the prevailing viewpoint.

   When the student was behind on his vocabulary, the teacher said, "get with the program!"

   Synonyms: get a clue, get with it, get with the times, move with the times, keep up with the times, be on top of things, get, be on the same page

2. USidiomaticinformalTo work productively toward the objective of a shared enterprise, especially after the objective or the environment has changed.

   Though natural gas prices dropped, the folks doing solar didn't get with the program.

   1 more example

   In the first season of Stranger Things, no character was more extra than Steve Harrington — Nancy Wheeler’s frequently possessive, largely confused, often douchey boyfriend. Though he eventually got with the program and helped fight some monsters, he wasn’t exactly what you’d call the pick of the litter.

   2017 November 7, Aja Romano, “The unlikely breakout star of Stranger Things 2 is unlikelier babysitter Steve Harrington”, in Vox

3. USidiomaticinformalTo comply with the norms of a social group, especially a shared enterprise; to comply with the accepted or prevailing way of doing things.

   Dude, get with the program! We don't do casual Fridays any more.