get with the program

English

Alternative forms

• get with the programme (UK)

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

get with the program (third-person singular simple present gets with the program, present participle getting with the program, simple past got with the program, past participle gotten with the program)

1. (US, idiomatic, informal) To become organized, current, or aware.

   When the student was behind on his vocabulary, the teacher said, "get with the program!"

2. (US, idiomatic, informal) To work productively toward the objective of a shared enterprise, especially after the objective or the environment has changed.

   Though natural gas prices dropped, the folks doing solar didn't get with the program.

   • 2017 November 7, Aja Romano, “The unlikely breakout star of Stranger Things 2 is unlikelier babysitter Steve Harrington”, in Vox‎:

     In the first season of Stranger Things, no character was more extra than Steve Harrington — Nancy Wheeler’s frequently possessive, largely confused, often douchey boyfriend. Though he eventually got with the program and helped fight some monsters, he wasn’t exactly what you’d call the pick of the litter.

3. (US, idiomatic, informal) To comply with the norms of a social group, especially a shared enterprise; to comply with the accepted or prevailing way of doing things.

   Dude, get with the program! We don't do casual Fridays any more.

Synonyms

• (become aware): get a clue
• (stay current): get with it, get with the times, move with the times, keep up with the times
• (become organized): be on top of things
• get/be on the same page

See also

• get one's act together