| 词组 | lick someone into shape |
| 释义 | Idiom lick someone into shapeknock/lick (something/someone) into shape to improve the condition of something or the condition or behaviour of someone.The prime minister's main aim is to knock the economy into shape.Little Sean is a bit wild but the teachers'll soon lick him into shape when he starts school. lick (someone or something) into shapeTo return someone or something into acceptable condition or behavior, especially through direct, efficient, and practical means. The president won the election on his promise to lick the economy into shape by overhauling outdated or inefficient legislation. What he really needs is a mentor who will lick him into shape. lick someone or something into shapeto press or force someone or something into good shape or condition. The drama coach will try to lick her into shape by performance time. Please try to lick this report into shape by tomorrow morning. lick something into shapeand whip something into shapeFig. to put something into good condition, possibly with considerable effort. I've got about two days more to lick this place into shape so I can sell it. I want to whip this house into shape for Saturday night. lick into shapeAlso, whip into shape. Bring into satisfactory condition or appearance, as in The garden looks neglected, but Dad will soon lick it into shape, or We need at least three more practices before the team is whipped into shape. The expression using lick, which some think alludes to how bears treat their cubs, dates from about 1600. The variant alludes to the forceful use of a whip to accomplish something. lick (or knock or whip) someone or something into shapeact forcefully to bring someone or something into a fitter, more efficient, or better-organized state.This expression originally referred to the belief, expressed in some early bestiaries, that bear cubs were born as formless lumps and were literally licked into shape by their mother. A bestiary was a treatise about different types of animal, popular especially in medieval times. get/knock/lick somebody/something into ˈshapemake somebody/something more acceptable or organized; improve somebody/something: Do you think you can lick this company into shape?lick something into shapeand whip something into shape tv. to put something into good condition, possibly with considerable effort. I’ve got about two days more to lick this place into shape so I can sell it. Whip this manuscript into shape, then we’ll talk about publishing it. lick into shapeInformal To bring into satisfactory condition or appearance. |
| 随便看 |
|
英语词组固定搭配大全包含354030条英汉双解词组，基本涵盖了全部常用英文词组、短语的翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。