Spanish Idiom · Native
ponerse las pilas
to get a move on / to buckle down / to get serious
Pronunciation: poh-NER-seh las PEE-las
Meaning
To become more energetic, focused, or serious about a task; to start working harder.
Example
Si quieres terminar a tiempo, tendrás que ponerte las pilas.
If you want to finish on time, you'll have to get a move on.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice ponerse las pilas out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a native-level Spanish idiom.