shape-up

or shape·up

[ sheyp-uhp ]

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.

shape up

verb

1. informal.
   to proceed or develop satisfactorily
2. informal.
   to develop a definite or proper form

noun

1. (formerly) a method of hiring dockers for a day or shift by having a union hiring boss select them from a gathering of applicants

Word History and Origins

Origin of shape-up¹

First recorded in 1940–45; noun use of verb phrase shape up

Example Sentences

As we have seen in the last few days it's shaping up to be both more chaotic and more extreme than even in 2016.

From Salon

The Premier League season may only be 11 games old, but already it is shaping up to be a thriller.

From BBC

There are no limits to the faith that modeling good behavior will cause Republicans to shape up, apparently.

From Salon

One person who has thrown his hand up to work in the transition is Joe Gruters, who is waiting to see how that shapes up.

From BBC

As many predicted, this is shaping up to be a long election night – one that might even stretch on for days.

From BBC

Related Words

• advance
• better
• boost
• correct
• develop
• enhance
• help
• increase
• lift
• progress
• promote
• raise
• recover
• reform
• revamp
• revise
• rise
• upgrade