shape-up

plural shape-ups

1. Alternative form of shapeup (any sense)
   1. Gathering of workers to be picked for a job.

      At each shape-up there is a new employment.

      1957, Burrhus Frederic Skinner, Verbal Behavior

      2 more examples

      But if he is absent at the shape-up – when the boss stevedore blows his whistle and the men line up in a semi-circle outside the pier to be picked – another man gets his place for the time being, and it may be that he will miss the ship entirely.

      1914 July, W.M. Houghton, “The Longshoreman's Life is Short but Seldom Merry”, in Temperance: A Monthly Journal of the Church Temperance Society, volume 6, number 11, page 14

      The attainment of status in the community is another important objective of workers, and it is obvious that the shape-up prevented longshoremen from achieving this goal.

      2023, Charles P. Larrowe, Shape-Up and Hiring Hall, page 73

   2. Activity to get someone or something back into shape.

      Shower shape-ups have two advantages.

      1990, The New Complete Medical and Health Encyclopedia, page 1147

      1 more example

      All the recipes for this 6-week shape-up are tasty and nutritious.

      2017, Liz Earle, Liz Earle's 6-Week Shape Up Plan

   3. Hairstyle

      I noticed my shape-ups weren't as nice as some of my friends from the city.

      2005, Spiro Milas, December 23, page 11

      1 more example

      Billy used to give us shape-ups to our hair. I went by his house one morning to get a shape-up, and he was shaking really bad.

      2019, David Lyons, The Boy Becomes a Man: Confessions of an Honest Politician