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Posted by on Oct 20, 2015 in TellMeWhy |

What Do You Mean by the Term Shape up or Ship Out?

What Do You Mean by the Term Shape up or Ship Out?

What Do You Mean by the Term Shape up or Ship Out? If someone says this to you, it means it’s time to make a change. Your behavior or performance isn’t living up to expectations.

This command was first used in the U.S. military during World War II. When a soldier was told to “shape up or ship out,” it meant that he needed to do a better job or he’d be shipped overseas to a combat zone.

The expression started being used after the war with any kind of poor performance or bad attitude. It means, get it together – or get out!

Content for this question contributed by Maria Wagner, resident of Marinette, Wisconsin, USA