Get it together
Meaning: To organize yourself, gain control of a situation, or stop being disorganized or emotional.
'Get it together' is a call to action — either to yourself or someone else — to stop messing around and start being responsible. It can be said with tough love ('get it together, man'), humor ('I need to get it together, I keep losing my keys'), or frustration. It implies the person has the ability but not the discipline.
Examples
- I keep showing up late to everything — I really need to get it together. 我每次都迟到——真的得振作起来了。Llego tarde a todo: de verdad que tengo que espabilar.毎回遅刻してばかり — マジでしっかりしなきゃ。맨날 지각이야 — 진짜 정신 좀 차려야 해.
- Get it together, dude — the presentation is in an hour. 振作点,老兄——还有一小时就要做报告了。Espabila, tío, la presentación es en una hora.しっかりしろよ — プレゼンまであと1時間だぞ。정신 차려, 친구 — 발표가 1시간 남았어.
- After a rough semester, she finally got it together and aced her finals. 经历了糟糕的一学期后,她终于振作起来,期末考试取得了优异成绩。Tras un semestre difícil, por fin se centró y sacó unas notas excelentes en los exámenes finales.大変な学期を過ごした後、彼女はようやく立て直して期末試験で好成績を収めた。힘든 학기를 보낸 후, 그녀는 마침내 정신을 차리고 기말고사에서 좋은 성적을 거뒀어.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: self-improvement, motivation, criticism
Tone: motivating, sometimes critical
✓ Do Say
- I need to get it together.我得振作起来了。Tengo que espabilar.I need to get it together.정신 좀 차려야 해.
- Come on, get it together!快点,振作起来!¡Venga, céntrate!Come on, get it together!자, 정신 차려!
✗ Don't Say
- Telling someone with anxiety or depression to 'get it together' is dismissive of their condition对有焦虑症或抑郁症的人说'get it together'是在轻视他们的状况Decirle a alguien con ansiedad o depresión que 'se centre' es despreciar su situación不安障害やうつ病を抱えている人に「get it together」と言うのは、その人の状態を軽視している불안장애나 우울증이 있는 사람에게 '정신 차려'라고 말하는 것은 그 사람의 상태를 무시하는 것이다
Origin & History
American English expression from the mid-20th century. 'Get your act together' and 'get it together' both emerged from the idea of assembling scattered parts into a coherent whole.
Cultural Context
Era: Mid-20th century onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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