English

Verb

to shape up ‎(third-person singular simple present shapes up, present participle shaping up, simple past and past participle shaped up)

1. (intransitive, idiomatic) To improve; to correct one's bad habits or behavior.

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

2. (intransitive, idiomatic) To take shape; to transform into or become.

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

   • 1983, The Right Stuff, 02:04:00

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

Synonyms

• (correct one's bad habits or behavior): improve, pull one's finger out, pull one's socks up
• (transform into): become, turn into, turn out to be

Derived terms

• shape up or ship out

Translations

See also

• in shape