Possible Clues:

• Smartened (up)
• Got hip, with 'up'
• Caught on, with 'up'
• Saw the light, with ''up''
• ___ up (became informed)
• __ up (got smart)
• Caught on, with "up"
• Got smart, with ''up''
• -- up (got smart)
• Became less reckless, say, with "up"