shape up

shape up
1) PHRASAL VERB If something is shaping up, it is starting to develop or seems likely to happen.

[V P] There are also indications that a major tank battle may be shaping up for tonight...

[V P as n] The accident is already shaping up as a significant environmental disaster...

[V P to-inf] It's shaping up to be a terrible winter. [Also V P into n]

2) PHRASAL VERB If you ask how someone or something is shaping up, you want to know how well they are doing in a particular situation or activity.

[V P as n] I did have a few worries about how Hugh and I would shape up as parents...

[V P adv] Girls are being recruited now. I heard they are shaping up very well.

3) PHRASAL VERB If you tell someone to shape up, you are telling them to start behaving in a sensible and responsible way.

[V P] It is of no value simply to tell one's adolescent children to shape up and do something useful.


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • shape — [shāp] n. [ME schap < OE (ge)sceap, form, created thing, akin to scieppan, to create, form < IE * skeb , var. of base * (s)kep , to cut with a sharp tool > SHAFT, SHAVE] 1. that quality of a thing which depends on the relative position… …   English World dictionary

  • Shape — Shape, n. [OE. shap, schap, AS. sceap in gesceap creation, creature, fr. the root of scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, to shape, to do, to effect; akin to OS. giskeppian, OFries. skeppa, D. scheppen, G. schaffen, OHG. scaffan, scepfen, skeffen, Icer.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shape — UK US /ʃeɪp/ noun [U or S] ► the way that something is organized, or its general character or nature: the shape of sth »Technological developments have changed the shape of industry. »We need to change the whole shape of our ad campaign. ► the… …   Financial and business terms

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  • Shape — (sh[=a]p), v. t. [imp. {Shaped} (sh[=a]pt); p. p. {Shaped} or {Shapen} (sh[=a]p n); p. pr. & vb. n. {Shaping}.] [OE. shapen, schapen, AS. sceapian. The p. p. shapen is from the strong verb, AS. scieppan, scyppan, sceppan, p. p. sceapen. See… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shape up — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To begin to act or work right; get along satisfactorily. * /If the new boy doesn t begin to shape up soon, he ll have to leave school./ * / How is the building of the new gym coming along? Fine. It s shaping up very well …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • shape up — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To begin to act or work right; get along satisfactorily. * /If the new boy doesn t begin to shape up soon, he ll have to leave school./ * / How is the building of the new gym coming along? Fine. It s shaping up very well …   Dictionary of American idioms

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  • SHAPE —   [ʃeɪp, englisch], Abkürzung für Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe [sʊ priːm hedkwɔːtəz ælaɪd paʊəz jʊərəp; englisch »Oberstes Hauptquartier der Alliierten Streitkräfte in Europa«], höchste militärische Kommandobehörde der… …   Universal-Lexikon

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