1
general::
get about
UK ( US get around ) MOVE
2. to be able to go to different places without difficulty, especially if you are old or ill
• My gran is finding it harder to get about these days., get by
to be able to live or deal with a situation with difficulty, usually by having just enough of something you need, such as money
• How can he get by on so little money?
• We can get by with four computers at the moment, but we'll need a couple more when the new staff arrive., get at sb
informal INFLUENCE
2. to influence a person illegally, usually by offering them money or threatening them
• The accused claimed that the witness had been got at., get up
GROW STRONG
2. UK If the wind gets up, it starts to grow stronger
• The wind is getting up., get in
ENTER
1. to succeed in entering a place, especially by using force or a trick
• They must have got in through the bathroom window., get sth out of sb
to persuade or force someone to tell or give you something
• He was determined to get the truth out of her., get around
mainly US for get round
• News of Helen's pregnancy soon got around the office., get back
to return to a place after you have been somewhere else
• If you get back in time, you can come with us.
• When we got back to the hotel, Ann had already left., get on
OLD get on (sth)
to go onto a bus, train, aircraft or boat
• I think we got on the wrong bus., get over sth/sb
to get better after an illness, or feel better after something or someone has made you unhappy
• She was only just getting over the flu when she got a stomach bug.
• It took him years to get over the shock of his wife dying.
• It took her months to get over Rupert when he finished the relationship., get together
MEET
1. If two or more people get together, they meet each other, having arranged it before
• Shall we get together on Friday and go for a drink or something?, get out
VISIT PLACES
2. to go out to different places and socialize
• We don't get out much since we had the children., get away with sth
AVOID PUNISHMENT
1. to succeed in avoiding punishment for something
• If I thought I could get away with it, I wouldn't pay any tax at all., get (sb) through sth
to deal with a difficult or unpleasant experience, or to help someone do this
• I don't know how I got through the first couple of months after Andy's death.
• We need to conserve our supplies so we can get through the winter., get at sb
informal CRITICIZE
1. UK ( US usually get on sb ) to criticize a person repeatedly in a way that makes them unhappy
• He keeps getting at me and I really don't know what I've done wrong., get round sth
UK ( US get around sth )
to succeed in avoiding or solving a problem
• We can get round the problem of space by building an extension., get on
RELATIONSHIP
1. mainly UK ( mainly US get along ) to have a good relationship
• We're getting on much better now that we don't live together.
• He doesn't get on with his daughter., get behind
to fail to do as much work or pay as much money as you should by a particular time
• She got behind with her mortgage and the house was repossessed., get into sb
If you do not know what has got into someone, you do not understand why they are behaving strangely
• I can't think what's got into him. He doesn't usually make such a fuss., get together
START
2. informal to start a romantic relationship
• She got together with Paul two years ago.
• They finally get it together right at the end of the film., get to sb
informal UPSET
2. If someone gets to you, they make you feel upset or angry
• I know he's annoying, but you shouldn't let him get to you., get sth in
[ M ] SAY
2. to succeed in saying something, although it is difficult to do this because other people are talking too
• He couldn't get a word in because she was talking so much.
• I'll try to get my suggestion in at the start of the meeting., get into sth
to become interested in an activity or subject, or start being involved in an activity
• She's been getting into yoga recently - she does three classes a week., get on to/onto sth
SUBJECT
1. to start talking about a different subject
• How did we get on to (the subject of) your grandmother's cat?, get out of sth
AVOID
1. to avoid doing something that you do not want to do, especially by giving an excuse
• I reckon her backache was just a way of getting out of the housework.
• [ + -ing verb ]: If I can get out of going to the meeting tonight I will., get (sb) off (sth)
1. to avoid punishment, or to help another person to avoid punishment for something
• She was charged with fraud, but her lawyer managed to get her off.
• "Was he found guilty?" "No, he got off."
• She got off with (= her only punishment was) a small fine., get sth in
[ M ] FIND TIME
3. informal to manage to find time to do something or deal with someone
• I get in a bit of gardening most evenings., get off (sth)
to leave a train, bus or aircraft
• Get off at Camden Town.
• I tripped as I got off the bus., get about
UK ( US get around ) TRAVEL
1. to travel to a lot of places
• Spain last week and Germany this week - he gets about, doesn't he!, get back to sb
to talk to someone again, usually on the telephone, in order to give them some information or because you were not able to speak to them before
• I'll get back to you later with those figures., get sth off
to send a letter or parcel to someone
• I got that letter off this morning., get round (somewhere)
UK ( US get around (somewhere) )
If news or information gets round, a lot of people hear about it
• News of her pregnancy soon got round (the office)., get sth up
[ M ]
to organize a group of people to do something
• He's getting up a small group to go carol-singing for charity., get off
2. informal to leave work with permission, usually at the end of the day
• How early can you get off this afternoon?, get (sb) off
SLEEP
1. to start sleeping, or to help a baby to start sleeping
• It was so hot that I didn't get off (to sleep) till three o'clock.
• I've been trying to get the baby off (to sleep) for an hour!, get in
ARRIVE
2. to arrive at your home or the place where you work
• What time did you get in last night?, get through sth
EXAMINATION
1. to succeed in an examination or competition
• She got through her exams without too much trouble., get yourself/sb up
informal
to dress yourself or someone else in particular clothing, especially clothing which is strange and unusual and
• ntended to achieve a particular effect
• [ R ]: He'd got him self up as a Roman emperor for the fancy-dress party., get off
1. to leave a place, usually in order to start a journey
• If we can get off by seven o'clock, the roads will be clearer., get at sth
SUGGEST
2. informal When someone is getting at something, they mean it or are trying to express it
• I'm not sure what you're getting at - don't you think I should come tonight?
• What do you think the poet is getting at in these lines?, get round sb
UK
to persuade someone to allow you something by using your charm
• [ + to infinitive ]: See if you can get round your father to give you a lift to the cinema., get away
1. to leave or escape from a person or place, often when it is difficult to do this
• We walked to the next beach to get away from the crowds.
• I'll get away from work as soon as I can., get on to/onto sth
PERSON
2. UK to speak or write to a person or organization because you want them to help you in some way
• Did you remember to get on to the plumber about the shower?, get (sb) into sth
to (cause someone to) become involved in a difficult situation, often without intending to
• After he lost his job, he got into debt.
• Are you trying to get me into trouble?, get sth back
[ M ]
to be given something again that you had before
• He went next door to get his ball back.
• Don't lend him money, you'll never get it back., get sth in
[ M ] SEND
1. to send something so that it arrives by a particular time
• I have to get my application in by Thursday., get (sb) off
PLEASURE
2. mainly US slang to have or give someone an orgasm
• They got off at the same time., get sth over with
to do or finish an unpleasant but necessary piece of work or duty so that you do not have to worry about it in the future
• I'll be glad to get these exams over with., get sb back
( also get back at sb ) informal
to do something unpleasant to someone because they have done something unpleasant to you
• I'll get you back for this, just you wait!
• I think he's trying to get back at her for those remarks she made in the meeting., get in on sth
to start to take part in an activity that is already happening because you will win an advantage from it
• A Japanese company tried to get in on the deal., get sth in
[ M ] BUY
4. UK informal to buy a supply of something, usually food or drink, so that you will have enough of what you need
• We'll have to get some food in for the weekend if we're having visitors., get away
2. to go somewhere to have a holiday, often because you need to rest
• I just need to get away for a few days.
• We've decided to go to Scotland to get away from it all., get up
STAND
1. to stand up
• The whole audience got up and started clapping., get out
LEAVE
1. to leave a closed vehicle, building, etc
• I'll get out when you stop at the traffic lights., get (sb/sth) out
to (help someone or something to) escape from or leave a place
• I left the door open and the cat got out.
• A team of commandoes got the hostages out from the rebel base., get to
You ask where people or things have got to when they do not arrive or are not where you expect them to be and you want to know where they are
• I wonder where my glasses have got to.
• Where's Annabel got to? She should be here by now., get through sth
FINISH
2. to use up or finish something
• We're getting through a lot of coffee/toilet paper.
• I can get through a lot more work when I'm on my own., get to sb
informal SUFFER
1. If something gets to you, it makes you suffer
• The heat was beginning to get to me, so I went indoors., get sth down
[ M ]
to write something, especially something that someone has said
• I didn't manage to get down that last bit she said, about the meeting., get through
to succeed in talking to someone on the telephone
• I tried to phone her but couldn't get through.
• I got through to the wrong department., get sth out of sth
to enjoy something or think something is useful
• It was a really boring course and I don't think I got much out of it., get in
ARRIVE
3. If a train or other vehicle gets in at a particular time, that is when it arrives
• What time is the plane expected to get in?, get back to sth
to start doing or talking about something again
• Anyway, I'd better get back to work., get out
BECOME KNOWN
3. If news or information gets out, people hear about it although someone is trying to keep it secret
• I don't want it to get out that I'm leaving before I've had a chance to tell Anthony., get ( sth ) through (to sb )
to succeed in making someone understand or believe something
• [ + question word ]: We can't get through to the government just how serious the problem is!
• I don't seem to be able to get through to (= communicate with) him these days., get at sth
REACH
1. to reach or obtain something, especially something that is difficult to get
• I've put the cake on a high shelf where he can't get at it., get sth off (sth)
informal
to remove a part of your body from a particular place
• Get your dirty feet off the settee!
• Get your hands off me!, get sth across
[ M ]
to manage to make someone understand or believe something
• We tried to get our point across, but he just wouldn't listen.
• This is the message that we want to get across to the public., get (sb) up
to wake up and get out of bed, or to tell or help someone to do this
• I got up at five o'clock this morning!
• It's dreadful trying to get the kids up on school days., get ahead
to be successful in the work that you do
• It's tough for a woman to get ahead in politics., get round to sth
UK
to do something that you have intended to do for a long time
• I still haven't got round to fixing that tap., get on
CONTINUE
3. to continue doing something, especially work
• I suppose I could get on with the ironing while I'm waiting.
• I'll leave you to get on then, shall I?, get in/get into sth
to succeed in being chosen or elected
• He wanted to go to Oxford, but he didn't get in.
• The Republicans are bound to get in at the next elections., get along
mainly US ( mainly UK get on ) DEAL WITH
2. to deal with a situation, usually successfully
• I wonder how Michael is getting along in his new job?, get sb in
to ask a trained person to come to your home to do some paid work
• We'll have to get a plumber in to look at that water tank., get away with sth
SUCCEED
2. to do something successfully although it is not the best way of doing it
• Do you think we could get away with just one coat of paint on that wall?, get on
MANAGE
2. mainly UK ( mainly US get along ) to manage or deal with a situation, especially successfully
• How are you getting on in your new flat?
• We're getting on quite well with the decorating., get sb down
If something gets you down, it makes you feel unhappy or depressed
• The chaos in his house was starting to get him down.
• I know it's frustrating, but don't let it get you down., get down to sth
to start to direct your efforts and attention towards something
• I've got a lot of work to do, but I can't seem to get down to it.
• [ + -ing verb ]: I must get down to booking our holiday., get up to sth
UK
to do something, often something that other people would disapprove of
• She's been getting up to all sorts of mischief lately.
• I wonder what those two got up to yesterday?, get off on sth
informal
to find something exciting, especially in a sexual way
• Dave likes power - he gets off on it., get out of sth
STOP
2. to give up or stop a habit or a regular activity
• I must get out of the habit of finishing off people's sentences for them.
• If you get out of a routine, it's very hard to get back into it., get sth down (sb)
[ M ]
to succeed in swallowing something although it is difficult
• Her throat was so swollen that she couldn't get the tablets down.
• informal humorous: Your dinner is on the table and you've got ten minutes to get it down (you)., get along
mainly US ( mainly UK get on ) BE FRIENDLY
1. If two or more people get along, they like each other and are friendly to each other
• I don't really get along with my sister's husband.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs