Meaning of lick into shape | Babel Free

Definitions

To exert considerable effort to change (someone or something) into a desired state.

idiomatic, transitive

Examples

“[…] Men did not knovv hovv to mould and frame it [the doctrine of transubstantiation]; but at laſt it vvas licked into ſhape; the vvhole Philoſophy being caſt into ſuch a Mould as agreed vvith it.”

“"People send⟳ us their cubs to lick into shape⟳, and what can we do?" Now the answer⟳ to this query concerns parents rather closely: what and how much can the schoolmaster do to make⟳ the boy "sit⟳ up" who has not been to the manner bred?”

““I believe⟳ we’d just better train⟳ up for all we’re worth,” she said at the committee meeting. “It’ll take⟳ ages to lick an eleven into shape⟳. What we want⟳ is to get⟳ a cricket atmosphere into the school. You can’t develop⟳ these things all in a few weeks. You’ve got to catch⟳ your kids young and teach⟳ them, before you get⟳ a school with a reputation. I feel⟳ with all the games that we’re simply building foundations at present⟳ at the Seaton High. This term especially is spade-work. I’ll do all I can to get⟳ things going, but it will be the Games Captain who comes after me who’ll reap the reward⟳.””

“You're disgracing your pa and I feel⟳ for him. […] And I'd like⟳ to see⟳ him happy and comfortable, with his buttons on and his meals decent, and you young ones licked into shape⟳, and that old cat of a Martha put⟳ in her proper place⟳.”

“Believe⟳ me, Mr. Jellyband was in no two minds about "them murderin' furriners over yonder" who had done away with their King and Queen and all their nobility and quality, and whom England had at last⟳ decided to lick into shape⟳.”

“After wrestling with this material whenever opportunity occurred during the next two or three weeks I got matters sorted out and sent the article to [Nigel] Gresley, mentioning in so doing that I felt it still required some licking into shape⟳, and would he please⟳ be perfectly frank in dealing with it.”

CEFR level