Phrasal Verbs with GET

Get across

= to communicate.

= to make someone understand something. (Especially if the details are too difficult to understand or if the person being explained to understands poorly).

• Although I couldn't speak the language, I managed to get my meaning across when necessary.
• Your meaning didn't really get across.
• He's not very good at getting his idea across.

Get along - Get on with

= to have a good / friendly relationship with someone.

(get on is used more in Britain)

• Even though there are six of them sharing the house, they all get on well with each other.
• He doesn't get along well with his mother-in-law.
• Our new boss is very easy to get on with.

Get around

1. = to become known. To spread or to circulate. If news or information gets around, people tell other people, so that soon many people know about it.

• It's a small place, so news and gossip get around pretty quickly.
• The news of his arrest got around quickly.
• News soon got around that Matthew was back in town.

2. = to find a way of avoiding a difficult or unpleasant situation, so that you don't have to deal with it.

• There is no way of getting around it - you are going to have to tell her the truth.
• Isn't there any way of getting around the regulations?

Get at

1. = to reach, to access to something.

• The cupboard is too high for me to get at.
• The report is locked in the cabinet and I can't get at them.

2. = to suggest something indirectly, to imply. (used only in the continuous tense)

• What exactly are you getting at? (=trying to say, suggest)

Get away

1. = to go away from someone or something

• Get away from me!
• Get away from that cake!
• It was so busy that Francisca couldn't get away from the phone all day.

2. = to escape from someone who is chasing you.

• They tried to get away from the police but they weren't quick enough.

3. = to have a holiday.

• We hope to get away for a couple of weeks around Christmas.

Get down

1. = to cause someone to be depressed.

• This weather is getting me down
• Don't let these problems get you down too much.

Get down to

1. = to reach the point of dealing with something.

2. = to begin to work on something seriously. To give serious attention to something.

3. = to finally start doing something, after you have been avoiding it or after something has prevented you from doing it.

• Now, let's get down to business
• It's time I got down to some serious work.
• Once it is Summer, we will get down to painting the house.

 

Get on

1. = to put yourself on or in something

• I get on the bus at 8am every morning.
• We got on the train just before it left.

2. = to remind someone to do something; to continue

• Your story is taking all day. Get on with it!

Get out of

1. = to avoid something

• He always tells his parents he has homework to get out of doing the dishes.
• She was lucky to get out of that dangerous situation.

2. = to physically remove yourself from somewhere or something

• I got out of bed as soon as my alarm went off.
• The police officer told me to get out of the car.

Get over

1. = to recover from something or return to your usual state of health or happiness.

• I thought he would never get over her illness.
• It took her a long time to get over their separation.
• He never got over the shock of losing his wife.

2. = to overcome or deal with or gain control of something.

• She can't get over her shyness.

Can't get over

1. = to be amazed or surprised by something.

• I can't get over how much your kids have grown.