Mrs. Elva Miller

To begin to act or work right; get along satisfactorily. /If the new boy doesnt begin to shape up soon, hell have to leave school./ /"How is the building of the new gym coming along?" "Fine. Its shaping up very well."/ 2. To show promise. /Plans for our picnic are shaping up very well./ [shape up or ship out]{v. phr.}, {informal} To either improve ones disposition or behavior, or quit or leave. /When Paul neglected to carry out his part of the research work that Professor Brown had assigned him with for the fifth time, the professor cried, "Shape up, or ship out, Paul. I have lost my patience with you!"/ [sharp] See: LOOK SHARP. [sharp as a tack]{adj. phr.} 1. Very neatly and stylishly dressed /That new boy always looks sharp as a tack in class./ 2. Very intelligent; smart; quick-witted. /Tom is sharp as a tack; he got 100 on every test./ [shed light on] or upon See: CAST LIGHT ON; THROW LIGHT ON. [sheep] See: WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHING. [sheepskin]{n.} Diploma. /Dr. Miller has half a dozen different sheepskins hanging on the wall of his office./ [sheet] See: SCANDAL SHEET, THREE SHEETS IN THE WIND or THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND. [shelf] See: ON THE SHELF. [shell] See: IN ONES SHELL or INTO ONES SHELL, OUT OF ONES SHELL. [shell out]{v.}, {informal} To pay or spend. /Dick had to shell out a lot of money for his new car./ [shift for oneself]{v. phr.} To live or act independently with no help, guidance or protection from others; take care of yourself. /Mrs ...»