shape up phrasal verb informal ( see also ↑ shape )
1 . to improve your behaviour or work:
You kids had better shape up, because I’m in no mood to fool around.
2 . to make progress in a particular way:
Ken’s plans for the business are shaping up nicely.
shape up as
Immigration is shaping up as a major issue in the campaign.
shape up to be something
It’s shaping up to be a pretty big party.
3 . shape up or ship out American English spoken used to tell someone that if they do not improve, they will be made to leave a place or their job