desahuevarse
/desawebaɾse/from spelling rulesLatin America
The English phrase 'shape up' can be translated into Spanish as desahuevarse. Wiktionary also lists ponerse para lo suyo.
Meaning: to improve, correct one's bad habits (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| desahuevarse | /desawebaɾse/ (from spelling rules) | Latin America |
| ponerse para lo suyo | /poneɾse paɾa lo suʝo/ (from spelling rules) |
To 'shape up' means to improve or to correct one's bad habits.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The term desahuevarse is highly colloquial and can be perceived as vulgar or aggressive depending on the context. Other ways to express this idea include the formal phrase Debe trabajar en su desempeño and various informal expressions such as Pon de tu parte, Necesitas mejorar or No te descuides.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional variations include Mejora tu comportamiento used in Spain, Ponte las pilas used in Mexico to mean 'get yourself together' or 'get your act together' and Ponete las pilas used in Argentina to mean 'get yourself together' or 'hurry up'. The form desahuevarse is also tagged as Latin American.
How do you pronounce it?
/desawebaɾse/
Did you know?
- While desahuevarse means to 'shape up', its root huevos is a common slang term for 'testicles'. This makes the phrase's literal meaning related to shaking off a perceived lack of masculinity or courage.
- In Mexico, the idiom Ponte las pilas is used to tell someone to 'get your act together' or to hurry up and start working harder.
- In some Latin American contexts, using desahuevarse can be an aggressive challenge to someone's courage, as it implies they are acting 'without eggs'.
Examples in context
- Ey, necesitas mejorar en el juego. Ponte las pilas y practica más.Hey, you need to improve your game. Shape up and practice more.
Example conversation
Daniel is warning Lucía about her poor performance at work.
- DanielLucía, estás llegando tarde todos los días.Lucía, you are arriving late every day.
- LucíaLo siento, he tenido problemas con el tráfico.I'm sorry, I've had problems with traffic.
- DanielTienes que desahuevarse o habrá consecuencias.You have to shape up or there will be consequences.
- LucíaEstá bien, Daniel, voy a mejorar mañana.Okay, Daniel, I am going to improve tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shape up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
