1.get/knock/lick sb into shape
把某人培养成材(或训练出来)
to train sb so that they do a particular job, task, etc. well
You'll have four months in which to lick the recruits into shape
你将有4个月的时间把这些新兵训练出来。
柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典
I've been jogging a lot to get myself into shape.
我长期慢跑锻炼身体。
Lionesses lick their cubs into shape and life.
母狮们训练好她们的幼崽,让它们自己生存。
Some of them lack experience, but we'll soon knock them into shape.
他们有些人还缺乏经验,但我们很快就能让他们上手的。
2.get/knock/lick sth into shape
把某事物整顿好;使某事物条理化(或更趋完善)
to make sth more acceptable, organized or successful
I've got all the information together but it still needs knocking into shape.
我把材料全都收集齐了,但还需要整理。
He could not get his ideas into shape.
他无法理清自己的思路。
Nevertheless an heroic effort is being made to lick Expo into shape before Easter Monday.
尽管如此,为了在复活节星期一之前把世博会搞得有声有色,我们还是做出了非常大的努力。
Few people doubt his ability to whip the economy into shape.
几乎无人怀疑他整顿经济的能力。《柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典》
这个例证说明get/knock/lick sth into shape=whip sth into shape
看来get/knock/lick sb into shape= whip sb into shape
We need a new manager to get the business into shape.
我们需要一个新经理来把业务安排妥当。
With a few days' more work I shall get it into shape.
再干几天我就会把这件事弄出眉目来。
His replacement, former sales manager Nils Sontag, never had enough time to lick the company into shape.
接替他的是前销售经理尼尔斯·桑塔格,他从来没有足够的时间打理好公司。