get one's arse in gear
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To start performing a task effectively or start behaving better in general; to shape up.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “get one's arse in gear” mean?
To start performing a task effectively or start behaving better in general; to shape up.
Is “get one's arse in gear” formal or informal?
get one's arse in gear is generally slang.