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to shape up
01
develop in a positive way
Grammatical Information
Composition
phrasal
Action verb
Regular
Separable
Particle
up
Base verb
shape
Present tense
shape up
3rd person singular
shapes up
Present participle
shaping up
Past simple
shaped up
Past participle
shaped up
02
to gesture, posture, or approach threateningly, often to intimidate or prepare for a fight
Slang
What does "to shape up" mean in street slang?
The structure combines "shape" (to form or arrange) with "up" (indicating readiness), forming a verb phrase that describes adopting an aggressive physical stance. It is used to describe gesturing, posturing, or approaching someone threateningly, often to intimidate or prepare for a fight without throwing the first punch. People typically say someone is "shaping up" when they clench fists, square their shoulders, or step close to an opponent as a warning.
Examples
Stop messing around or shape up!
