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noun
1.
an act or instance of shaping up.
2.
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.
Also, shape·up.
Origin:
1940–45; noun use of verb phrase shape up
1940–45; noun use of verb phrase shape up
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Shape up
is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
1.
the quality of a distinct object or body in having an external surface or outline of specific form or figure.
2.
this quality as found in some individual object or body form: This lake has a peculiar shape.
3.
something seen in outline, as in silhouette: A vague shape appeared through the mist.
4.
an imaginary form; phantom.
5.
EXPANDan assumed appearance; guise: an angel in the shape of a woman.
6.
a particular or definite organized form or expression: He could give no shape to his ideas.
7.
proper form; orderly arrangement.
8.
condition or state of repair: The old house was in bad shape. He was sick last year, but is in good shape now.
9.
the collective conditions forming a way of life or mode of existence: What will the shape of the future be?
10.
the figure, physique, or body of a person, especially of a woman: A dancer can keep her shape longer than those of us who have sedentary jobs.
11.
something used to give form, as a mold or a pattern.
12.
Also called section. Building Trades, Metalworking. a flanged metal beam or bar of uniform section, as a channel iron, I-beam, etc.
13.
COLLAPSENautical. a ball, cone, drum, etc., used as a day signal, singly or in combinations, to designate a vessel at anchor or engaged in some particular operation.
verb (used with object)
14.
to give definite form, shape, organization, or character to; fashion or form.
15.
to couch or express in words: to shape a statement.
16.
to adjust; adapt: He shaped everything to suit his taste.
17.
to direct (one's course, future, etc.).
18.
EXPANDto file the teeth of (a saw) to uniform width after jointing.
19.
Animal Behavior, Psychology. to teach (a desired behavior) to a human or other animal by successively rewarding the actions that more and more closely approximate that behavior.
20.
COLLAPSEObsolete. to appoint; decree.
verb (used without object)
Verb phrase21.
to come to a desired conclusion or take place in a specified way: If discussions shape properly, the companies will merge.
22.
Idiomshape up,
a.
to assume a specific form: The plan is beginning to shape up.
b.
to evolve or develop, especially favorably.
c.
to improve one's behavior or performance to meet a required standard.
d.
to get oneself into good physical condition.
e.
(of longshoremen) to get into a line or formation in order to be assigned the day's work.
23.
take shape, to assume a fixed form; become definite: The house is beginning to take shape.
Origin:
before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English gesceapu (plural); replacing dial. shap, Middle English; Old English gesceap (singular); cognate with Old Norse skap state, mood; (v.) Middle English; Old English sceapen (past participle); replacing Middle English sheppe, shippe, Old English sceppan, scyppan; cognate with German schaffen, Old Norse skepja, Gothic -skapjan to make
before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English gesceapu (plural); replacing dial. shap, Middle English; Old English gesceap (singular); cognate with Old Norse skap state, mood; (v.) Middle English; Old English sceapen (past participle); replacing Middle English sheppe, shippe, Old English sceppan, scyppan; cognate with German schaffen, Old Norse skepja, Gothic -skapjan to make
Related forms
shap·a·ble, shape·a·ble, adjective
out·shape, verb (used with object), out·shaped, out·shap·ing.
pre·shape, noun, verb (used with object), pre·shaped, pre·shap·ing.
trans·shape, verb (used with object), trans·shaped, trans·shap·ing.
un·shap·a·ble, adjective
EXPANDSynonyms
1. silhouette, appearance. See form. 4. specter, illusion. 7. order, pattern. 8. order, situation. 14. mold, model.
1. silhouette, appearance. See form. 4. specter, illusion. 7. order, pattern. 8. order, situation. 14. mold, model.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
|
Link To shape up
Collins
World English Dictionary
| shape up | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | informal to proceed or develop satisfactorily |
| 2. | informal to develop a definite or proper form |
| —n | |
| 3. | (US), (Canadian) (formerly) a method of hiring dockers for a day or shift by having a union hiring boss select them from a gathering of applicants |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
shape
O.E. gesceap "creation, form, destiny," from root of shape (v.)). Meaning "contours of the body" is attested from c.1393. Meaning "condition, state" is first recorded 1865, Amer.Eng. In M.E., the word also had a sense of "a woman's private parts." Shapely "well-formed" is recorded from 1382.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary
shape up definition
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
shape up
-
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.
-
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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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