Portions of those letters quoted by Bruccoli indicate that though Hemingway could be sympathetic, he used a lot of ink telling Fitzgerald to shape up or ship out.
Wikipedia foundation.
shape up or ship out — If someone has to shape up or ship out, they have to improve or leave their job, organisation, etc … The small dictionary of idiomes
shape up or ship out — in. improve or get out. □ I’ll tell you one more time. Shape up or ship out! □ They told me I had to shape up or ship out … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
shape up or ship out — If someone has to shape up or ship out, they have to improve or leave their job, organisation, etc. (Dorking School Dictionary) *** This expression is used to warn someone that if they do not improve, they will have to leave their job … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
shape up or ship out — informal used as an ultimatum to someone to improve their performance or behavior or face being made to leave * * * ˈshape up or ship ˈout idiom (NAmE, informal) used to tell sb that if they do not improve, work harder, etc. they will have to… … Useful english dictionary
shape up or ship out — {v. phr.}, {informal} To either improve one s disposition or behavior, or quit or leave. * /When Paul neglected to carry out his part of the research work that Professor Brown had assigned him with for the fifth time, the professor cried, Shape… … Dictionary of American idioms
shape up or ship out — {v. phr.}, {informal} To either improve one s disposition or behavior, or quit or leave. * /When Paul neglected to carry out his part of the research work that Professor Brown had assigned him with for the fifth time, the professor cried, Shape… … Dictionary of American idioms
shape\ up\ or\ ship\ out — v. phr. informal To either improve one s disposition or behavior, or quit or leave. When Paul neglected to carry out his part of the research work that Professor Brown had assigned him with for the fifth time, the professor cried, Shape up, or… … Словарь американских идиом
shape up or ship out — improve your work or go away, if you can t cut it... Soldiers must obey orders, the officer said. You will learn to shape up or ship out … English idioms
Shape up or ship out. — informal something that you say in order to tell someone that if their behaviour does not improve, they will have to leave. This is the third serious mistake you ve made this month. It s not good enough you re going to have to shape up or ship… … New idioms dictionary
shape up or ship out — idiom. behave/perform well or get out of the way … English slang
