The idiom "shape up or ship out" is a warning to someone that they need to improve their behavior or performance, or else they will have to leave or be fired. It is often used in situations where someone is not meeting expectations or is causing problems.
For example, if an employee is consistently late to work and not completing their tasks on time, their boss might say "You need to shape up or ship out. We can't afford to have someone who isn't reliable on our team."
The phrase "shape up" means to improve or get better, while "ship out" means to leave or be sent away. So, the warning is that if the person doesn't improve, they will be asked to leave or fired.
Overall, "shape up or ship out" is a strong and direct way to tell someone that they need to improve their behavior or performance or face consequences.
• The boss gave the employees an ultimatum to shape up or ship out if they don't meet the targets.
• The CEO told the board of directors that the company needs to shape up or ship out if they want to remain competitive in the market.
• The teacher warned the students to shape up or ship out as the exams are approaching.
• The government urged the company to shape up or ship out if they don't comply with the regulations.
• If you want to keep your job, you need to shape up or ship out.
• The coach told the player to shape up or ship out if he wants to be part of the team.