get one's act together

English

Etymology

Figuratively, a comparison with the achieved result and the preparation involved in creating, producing, rehearsing, and polishing a theatrical act or similar performance.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Verb

get one's act together (third-person singular simple present gets one's act together, present participle getting one's act together, simple past got one's act together, past participle (UK) got one's act together or (US) gotten one's act together)

1. (idiomatic) To become serious, organized, worthwhile, etc.

   Synonyms: get it together, get one's shit together, straighten up and fly right

   It didn't look like he'd ever get his act together, but eventually the project got going.

   • 2021 September 8, Dr Joseph Brennan, “Electric tramways at the heart of our seaside story”, in RAIL, number 939, page 59:

     Thanet got its act together after the August 3 accident, with no more major accidents over its remaining history.

Related terms

• clean up one's act
• have one's act together

Translations

become serious and organized

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Danish: tage sig sammen
• Esperanto: please add this translation if you can
• Finnish: panna toimeksi
• French: se reprendre en main
• German: sich zusammenreißen, die Kurve kriegen
• Italian: darsi da fare
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: få orden i sysakene, få ting på stell

• Polish: brać się w garść impf, wziąć się w garść pf
• Spanish: sentar la cabeza (es), ponerse las pilas (es)
• Swedish: ta sig i kragen (sv)

See also

• turn over a new leaf
• keep it together
• get a grip