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to get one's ass in gear

to get one's ass in gear

2 9.9
Start working quickly and with more energy
  • idiom
  • Offensive
translation icon : ponerse las pilas
  • You can get comfortable in the spiral, but when you reach the destination, a certain urgency kicks in and you know it's time to get your ass in gear.
  • Well, get your ass in gear

Examples

  • Get your ass in gear.

  • I need to get my ass in gear if I'm ever going to write this.

    Blog text (19)
  • I've got to get my ass in gear and find a school today.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Well, get your ass in gear and get out of there, hoo-haw...

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Okay, Mr. Jenson, get your ass in gear and let's go.

  • I better get my ass in gear... or they're going to discontinue the run.

  • If you want to finish your project on time, you need to get your ass in gear right now.

  • After being late several times, she decided it was time to get her ass in gear and improve her punctuality.

  • With the deadline approaching, everyone in the office was told to get their ass in gear and start working faster.

Synonyms

to hurry up
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • Informal
637 1.0

To move or act more quickly to avoid being late

is more forceful and blunt about starting work urgently
to move it
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • Informal
512 6.7

To hurry so you do something faster, often to avoid being late

is similar but uses coarser, stronger language to push action
to hurry
vsto get one's ass in gear
97 1.0

To make someone move or work faster than they want

is cruder and more forceful in urging urgent action
to pick up the pace
vsto get one's ass in gear
23 4.0

To move or work faster

is harsher and more forceful about starting work now
to get cracking
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • Informal
12 5.8

Start working quickly and with energy

is similar but carries harsher, more vulgar push to act
to step on the gas
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • Informal
9 3.7

To press the pedal in a car to make it go faster or hurry to finish something

is similar but uses stronger, more vulgar pressure to hurry
to put the pedal to the metal
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • Informal
7 6.3

To drive or work as fast as possible, often to finish something

shares speed increase but is harsher and more direct
to get in gear
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • Informal
3 4.2

Start working more actively and getting more done

adds stronger, more forceful urgency to that start
to get stuck in
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • UK
2 5.8

To start a task with energy and eagerness

is more blunt and demanding about increasing urgency
to go into high gear
vsto get one's ass in gear
1 4.4

To start working faster and harder

is similar but more bluntly commands immediate energetic action
to hit the accelerator
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • Informal
1 4.4

To try harder or work faster to reach a goal

is more bluntly demanding immediate productive action
to rev up
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • Informal
1 4.6

To make something faster or more active

is more about forcing immediate energetic action with blunt tone
to quicken the pace
vsto get one's ass in gear
1 3.9

Move or work faster to finish sooner

adds blunt, rude pressure to hurry rather than neutral speed
to get your ass in gear
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • Offensive
9.9

To start working quickly and seriously

is the same urge but expressed more vulgar and forceful
to click into gear
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • Informal
4.2

To start working well and fast after a slow time

focuses more on urgent, forceful activation rather than steady restart
to get weaving
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • UK
7.7

To start doing something quickly

adds stronger pressure and blunt tone to prompt activity
to push into overdrive
vsto get one's ass in gear
6.1

To work much harder and faster to get something done

is more about an immediate rude push to start fast
to shift into fourth gear
vsto get one's ass in gear
5.8

To start working faster and try harder to reach a goal

presses for quicker, blunt action rather than gradual increase
to hussy up
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • UK
9.7

To hurry and get ready when you need to leave

is more of a blunt command to start working with urgency
to accel
vsto get one's ass in gear
  • Informal
9.1

To make something happen faster

is more about bluntly forcing immediate energetic work

Antonyms

687 1.4

To move or act more slowly

To delay doing something you should do because you avoid it

How Prompt

to get one's ass in gear
  • Offensive
2 9.9
to get going
422 2.3
to dawdle
17 5.0

Surface Forms

getting one's ass in gear present participle
gets one's ass in gear third person singular
got one's ass in gear past participle

Morphology

get + one + ass + in + gear

The core meaning derives from the metaphor 'get (something) in gear' — starting or becoming ready/productive — so a learner who knows 'get', 'in' and 'gear' could plausibly infer 'start moving/working'. However the insertion of 'one's ass' is vulgar emphatic slang and the exact pragmatic force and register are idiomatic, so the sense is only partially predictable without exposure.

Etymology

The idiom get one's ass in gear shows a picture: put your ass into gear, as if the moving parts make you start going. So it means 'to hurry up' or 'start working harder'.