COMMON If someone or something gets into gear or gets in gear, they start to deal effectively with something or start to operate effectively. Note: The image in the following idioms is of driving a car. The town itself has got into gear with a campaign to improve the environment. The business was just getting in gear when the recession started. Note: Other verbs such as move can be used instead of get. Even as the publicity machine moves into gear, Mbongeni is setting up another project. Note: You can say that you are in gear when you are already dealing with something effectively. After a difficult few months getting used to working again, I'm pretty much in gear now. Note: You can also get someone or something else into gear. Ultimately, he does help her to get her life into gear again.