You need to get your act together if you want to keep this job.
get your act together
idiomWork better or leave
Origin
disputed originMid-20th-century American show-business slang: performers needed to polish and organise their 'act' before going on stage.
The manager warned him that he must get his act together and start arriving on time or he would face a formal warning.
After several months of declining productivity and missed deadlines, the department head told the team they needed to get their act together to avoid a complete restructuring of the office.
Last updated June 7, 2026