ponerse las pilas

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Spanish

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Etymology

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Literally, put one's batteries in.

Verb

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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[1], Madrid, →ISSN:
      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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