ponerse las pilas

Spanish

Etymology

Literally, "put one's batteries in".

Verb

ponerse las pilas (first-person singular present me pongo las pilas, first-person singular preterite me puse las pilas, past participle puesto las pilas)

  1. (idiomatic, colloquial) to pull up one's socks; to pull one's socks up
  2. (idiomatic, colloquial) to get one's act together
    • 2019 December 6, Juan Sanguino, quoting Kristen Stewart, “Cómo Kristen Stewart superó el desprecio del público para convertirse en la estrella más libre de Hollywood”, in El País, Madrid, ISSN 1134-6582:
      No estaba preparada. Me pilló desprevenida y la gente se puso furiosa, me consideraban un fraude. Me decían: ‘Ponte las pilas o retírate del negocio’”.
      I was not prepared. I was caught off guard, people were furious and considered me a fraud. They told me: ‘Get your act together or retire from business.’”

Further reading

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