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knock into shape

knock/lick/whipsomething/somebody 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.
See also: knock, shape

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Yonatan-Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Paraskeve-Late Greek
TraciTRAY-seeEnglish
Harding['ha:diŋ]
Arn&Thorn;ÓR-Icelandic
Armstrong['a:mstrɔŋ]
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