shape up

present singular third person shapes up · participle present shaping up · participle past shaped up · past shaped up

1. idiomaticintransitiveTo improve; to correct one's bad habits or behavior.

   He'd better shape up soon, or he'll fail the class.

   1 more example

   You better shape up 'Cause I need a man And my heart is set on you

   1978, John Farrar, “You're the One That I Want”, performed by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

   Synonyms: improve, pull one's finger out, pull one's socks up

2. idiomaticintransitiveTo take shape; to transform into or become.

   The fog has vanished and it's shaping up to be a beautiful day.

   2 more examples

   Pretty good. A full refrigerator! I can see this afternoon is shaping up just great.

   1983, 02:04:00 from the start, in The Right Stuff

   Even though this episode felt packed to the brim and sometimes unwieldly, the strongest moments were spent with Cersei, Sansa, and Daenerys: three daughters who were never supposed to rule, wading through their pain and suffering to shape The Seven Kingdoms. A lot has been said and written about the sons in this story who were never meant to rule (Tyrion, Jon, even Sam) but this season is shaping up to be an examination of these women.

   2017 July 30, Ali Barthwell, “Ice and fire finally meet in a front-loaded episode of Game Of Thrones (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 31 Jul 2017

   Synonyms: become, turn into, turn out to be

3. intransitiveslangTo gesture or posture threateningly; to approach as if to fight; to pose to intimidate.

   Synonyms: bridge up