get a slap on the wrist to get a light pun-
ishment (for doing something wrong).
(Also with have. See the note at get a big
send-off. See also give someone a slap on
the wrist.) He created quite a distur-
bance, but he only got a slap on the wrist.
I thought I’d get a slap on the wrist for
speeding, but I got fined $200. She had
a slap on the wrist about that before.
get a start 1. and get a jump(start) to re-
ceive help starting one’s car. My car is
stalled. I need to get a start. I got my
car going. I got a jump from John. 2. to re-
ceive training or a big opportunity in be-
ginning one’s career. (The same as get
one’s start. Also with have. See the note
at get a big send-off.) She got a start
in show business in Cincinnati. She had
a start when she was only four.
get a taste of one’s own medicine [for
one] to receive difficulties of the same
kind that one has been causing other
people. (Also with have. See the note at
get a big send-off. See also dose of one’s
own medicine.) Now you see how it
feels to have someone call you names! You
are getting a taste of your own medicine!
John, who is often rude and abrupt with
people, was devastated when the teacher
treated him rudely. He doesn’t like having
a taste of his own medicine.
get a thing about someone or something to
develop strong likes or dislikes about
someone or something. (Also with have.
See the note at get a big send-off.) I
have a thing about celery. I can’t stand it.
John can’t get enough celery. He’s got a
thing about it. John has a thing about
Mary. He thinks he’s in love.
get a toehold (somewhere) Go to get a
foothold (somewhere).
get at someone or something 1. to attack or
strike someone or something. (Compare
this with go at someone or something . Also
with have.) The cat jumped over the
wall to get at the mouse. Ok, you guys.
There he is. Have at him! 2. [with some-
thing] to eat food; to gobble up food. (In-
formal. Also with have.) I can’t wait
to get at that cake. Dinner’s ready. Sit
down and have at it. 3. [with someone] to
find a way to irritate someone; to man-
age to wound someone, physically or
emotionally. Mr. Smith found a way to
get at his wife. John kept trying to get
at his teacher. 4. [with something] to ex-
plain or try to explain something; to hint
at something. We spent a long time try-
ing to get at the answer. I can’t under-
stand what you’re trying to get at. 5. [with
something] to begin to do something; to
get (around) to something. I won’t be able
to get at it until the weekend. I’ll get at
it first thing in the morning.
get at the heart of the matter Go to get
to the heart of the matter.
get away (from it all) to get away from
one’s work or daily routine; to go on a va-
cation. I just love the summer when I
can take time off and get away from it all.
Yes, that’s the best time to get away.
get away with something to do something
bad and not get punished or found out.
Tom did it again and didn’t get pun-
ished. He’s always getting away with mur-
Just because she’s so popular, she
thinks she can get away with anything.
You’ll never get away with it.
get a whiff of something and catch a whiff
of something to learn about someone al-
most accidentally. (Also literal.) The
boss got a whiff of the problems in the ac-
counting department. No one will get
a whiff of your trouble with the police. I’ll
see to that.
get a word in edgeways Go to get a word
in edgewise.
get back (at someone) and have back at
someone to repay one for a bad deed; to get
even (with someone). (Have back at some-
one is informal or folksy. Compare this
with have at someone or something at get at
someone or something.) Tom called me a
jerk, but I’ll get back at him. I don’t
know how I’ll get back, but I will. Just
wait. I’ll have back at you!
get back into circulation to start being
social with people again after a period of
being by oneself; to start dating again, es-
pecially after a divorce or breakup with
a lover. Sally is anxious to get back into
circulation after the nasty divorce she went
through. Todd could not bring himself
to get back into circulation after the death
of his wife.
get back into harness to return to one’s
workplace, such as after a vacation or a
period of illness. (Refers to harnessing a
horse so it can return to work.) I am
not at all anxious to get back into harness
after spending two weeks in Mexico.
Tom was eager to get back into harness af-
ter his illness.
get back on one’s feet to become inde-
pendent again; to become able to get
around again. (Note the variations with
own and two in the examples.) He was
sick for a while, but now he’s getting back
on his feet. My parents helped a lot
when I lost my job. I’m glad I’m back on
my own feet now. It feels great to be back
on my own two feet again.
get back (to someone) to continue talking
with someone (at a later time); to find
out information and tell it to a person (at
a later time). I don’t have the answer
to that question right now. Let me find out
and get back to you. Okay. Please try
to get back early tomorrow.
get busy to start working; to work harder
or faster. The boss is coming. You’d bet-
ter get busy. I’ve got to get busy and
clean this house up. Come on, every-
body. Let’s get busy and get this job done.
get butterflies in one’s stomach to get a
nervous feeling in one’s stomach. (Infor-
mal. Also with have. See the note at get
a big send-off. See also give one butterflies
in one’s stomach.) Whenever I have to
go on stage, I get butterf lies in my stom-
ach. She always has butterf lies in her
stomach before a test.
get by (on something) to manage on the least
amount of money, supplies, goods, etc.
(Compare this with get along (on a shoe-
string).) We don’t have much money.
Can we get by on love? I’ll get by as long
as I have you. We don’t have very much
food, but we’ll get by for the weekend.
get by (with something) 1. to satisfy the
minimum requirements. I was failing
geometry, but managed to get by with a
D. I took the bar exam and just barely
got by. 2. to do something bad and not
get caught or punished; to get away with
something. Tom cheated on the test and
got by with it. Maybe you can get by like
that once or twice, but you’ll get caught.
get carried away to be overcome by emo-
tion or enthusiasm (in one’s thinking or
actions). (Also literal when someone or
something is transported away.) Calm
down, Jane. Don’t get carried away.
Here, Bill. Take this money and go to the
candy store, but don’t get carried away.
get cold feet and have cold feet to be-
come timid or frightened; to have one’s
feet seem to freeze with fear. I usually
get cold feet when I have to speak in pub-
lic. John got cold feet and wouldn’t run
in the race.
get cracking to get moving; to get busy.
(Folksy.) Let’s go. Come on, get crack-
ing! Move it! We don’t have all day. Let’s
get cracking! We’ll never get finished if
you don’t get cracking.
get credit (for something) to receive praise
or recognition for one’s role in some-
thing. (Especially with a lot of, much, etc.,
as in the examples below.) Mary should
get a lot of credit for the team’s success.
Each of the team captains should get credit.
get down to brass tacks to begin to talk
about important things; to get down to
business. Let’s get down to brass tacks.
We’ve wasted too much time chatting.
Don’t you think that it’s about time to get
down to brass tacks?
get down to business and get down to
work to begin to get serious; to begin to
negotiate or conduct business. All
right, everyone. Let’s get down to business.
There has been enough playing around.
When the president and vice president ar-
rive, we can get down to business.
They’re here. Let’s get down to work.
get down to cases to begin to discuss spe-
cific matters; to get down to business.
When we’ve finished the general discus-
sion, we’ll get down to cases. Now that
everyone is here, we can get down to cases.
get down to (doing) something to begin do-
ing some kind of work in earnest.
have to get down to my typing. John,
you get in here this minute and get down
to that homework!
get down to the facts to begin to talk
about things that matter; to get to the
truth. The judge told the lawyer that the
time had come to get down to the facts.
Let’s get down to the facts, Mrs. Brown.
Where were you on the night of January
get down to the nitty-gritty to get down
to the facts; to get down to cases. (Slang.)
Stop fooling around. Get down to the
nitty-gritty. Let’s stop wasting time. We
have to get down to the nitty-gritty.
get down to work Go to get down to
business.
get even (with someone) to repay someone’s
bad deed; to get back (at someone). Bill
hit Bob, and Bob got even with Bill by hit-
ting him back. Some people always have
to get even.
get fresh (with someone) to become overly
bold or impertinent with someone.
When I tried to kiss Mary, she slapped me
and shouted, “Don’t get fresh with me!”
I can’t stand people who get fresh.
get goose bumps and get goose pim-
ples [for one’s skin] to feel prickly or be-
come bumpy due to cold, fear, or excite-
ment. (Also with have. See the note at get
a big send-off.) When he sings, I get
goose bumps. I never get goose pimples.
That really scared her. Now she’s got
goose pimples.
get goose pimples Go to get goose
bumps.
get gray hair(s) to have one’s hair turn gray
from stress or frustration. (Also with
have. See the note at get a big send-off.)
I’m getting gray hair because I have
three teenage boys. Oh, Tom, stop it! I’m
going to get gray hairs. I have gray hairs
from raising four kids.
get hell Go to get the devil.
get in on something to become associated
with something, such as an organization
or an idea; to find out or be told about
special plans. (Also with be, as in the fi-
nal example.) There is a party upstairs,
and I want to get in on it. I want to get
in on your club’s activities. Mary and
Jane know a secret, and I want to get in
on it. I’m happy to be in on your cele-
bration. There is going to be a surprise
party, and I’m in on it.
get into a jam Go to get into a mess.
get into a mess and get into a jam to
get into difficulty or confusion. (Infor-
mal. Compare this with get out of a
mess.) Try to keep from getting into a
mess. “Hello, Mom,” said John on the
telephone. “I’m at the police station. I got
into a jam.”
get into full swing and get into high
gear to move into the peak of activity; to
start moving fast or efficiently. (Infor-
In the summer months, things
really get into full swing around here.
We go skiing in the mountains each win-
ter. Things get into high gear there in
November.
get into high gear Go to get into full swing.
get in(to) hot water to get into trouble or
difficulty; to get involved in something
that is complicated or troublesome.
When you start trying to build your own
computer, you are getting into hot water.
When Fred was caught cheating on his
exam, he got into hot water.
get into the act to try to be part of what-
ever is going on. (Refers to someone try-
ing to get on stage and participate in a
performance.) I can do this by myself.
There is no need for you to get into the act.
Everyone wants to get into the act.
Please let us do it. We don’t need your help!
get involved (with someone) to become as-
sociated with someone. (Sometimes ro-
mantically involved.) Sally is getting in-
volved with Bill. They’ve been seeing a lot
of each other. I hope they don’t get too
involved. He didn’t want his son in-
volved with the gangs.
get it Go to get something.
get it in the neck to receive something
bad, such as punishment or criticism.
(Slang. Compare this with get it.)
don’t know why I should get it in the neck.
I didn’t break the window. Bill got it in
the neck for being late.
get lost 1. to become lost; to lose one’s way.
We got lost on the way home. Follow
the path, or you might get lost. 2. Go
away!; Stop being an annoyance! (Slang.
Always a command.) Stop bothering
me. Get lost! Get lost! I don’t need your
help. Stop following me. Get lost!
get married to become united as husband
and wife. Bill and Sally got married
when they were in college. We got mar-
ried in Texas just after we graduated from
college.
get mixed-up to get confused.
mixed-up easily whenever I take a test.
Sorry, I didn’t say the right thing. I got
mixed-up.
get nowhere fast not to make progress;
to get nowhere. (Informal or slang.) I
can’t seem to make any progress. No mat-
ter what I do, I’m just getting nowhere fast.
Come on. Speed up this car. We’re get-
ting nowhere fast.
get off 1. to escape or avoid punishment
(for doing something wrong). (Also lit-
eral meaning to disembark.) It was a
serious crime, but Mary got off with a light
sentence. I was afraid that the robber
was going to get off completely. 2. to start
off (on a friendship). (See also get off on
the wrong foot. Compare this with get
along (with someone).) Tom and Bill had
never met before. They seemed to get off all
right, though. I’m glad they got off so
well. 3. to leave; to depart. The plane
did not get off on time. We have to get
off early in the morning before the traffic
gets heavy.
get off easy and get off lightly to receive
very little punishment (for doing some-
thing wrong). (See also get a slap on the
wrist.) It was a serious crime, but Mary
got off easy. Billy’s punishment was very
light. Considering what he did, he got off
lightly.
Get off it! Don’t talk nonsense!; Don’t talk
like that! (Usually a command.) Get off
it, Tom! You don’t know that for a fact.
Oh, get off it! You sound so conceited!
get off lightly Go to get off easy.
get off on the wrong foot and get off
to a bad start to start something (such
as a friendship) with negative factors.
(Also literal. See also get off; be off on the
wrong foot; be off to a bad start; start off
on the wrong foot.) Bill and Tom got off
on the wrong foot. They had a minor car
accident just before they were introduced.
Let’s work hard to be friends. I hate to
get off on the wrong foot. Bill is getting
off to a bad start in geometry. He failed the
first test.
get off scot-free Go to go scot-free.
Get off someone’s back! Go to Get off some-
one’s case!
Get off someone’s case! and Get off some-
one’s back!; Get off someone’s tail! Leave
someone alone!; Stop picking on some-
one! (Slang. Usually a command.) I’m
tired of your criticism, Bill. Get off my
case! Quit picking on her. Get off her
back! Leave me alone! Get off my tail!
Get off someone’s tail! Go to Get off some-
one’s case!
get off the hook to free oneself from an
obligation. They have asked you to lead
the parade, and I don’t think you can get
off the hook. I couldn’t get off the hook
no matter how much I pleaded.
get off to a bad start Go to get off on the
wrong foot.
get off to a flying start to have a very suc-
cessful beginning to something. The
new business got off to a f lying start with
those export orders. We shall need a
large donation from the local citizens if the
charity is to get off to a f lying start.
get off your high horse to become less
haughty. You should get off your high
horse and pay attention more to what peo-
ple think. If she would get off her high
horse and try to be human, everyone
would like her better.
get one’s comeuppance to get a reprimand;
to get the punishment one deserves.
(Folksy.) Tom is always insulting peo-
ple, but he finally got his comeuppance.
Bill hit him. I hope I don’t get my come-
uppance like that.
get one’s ducks in a row to get something
into order or into line; to put one’s affairs
in order; to get things ready. (Informal.
Also with have. See the note at get a big
send-off. Refers to a mother duck lead-
ing a row of ducklings.) Jane is orga-
nized. She really has all her ducks in a row.
You can’t hope to go into a company and
sell something until you get your ducks in
a row. As soon as you people get your
ducks in a row, we’ll leave.
get (oneself) into a stew (over someone or
something) to be worried or upset about
someone or something. Please don’t get
yourself into a stew over Walter. Liz is
the kind of person who gets into a stew over
someone else’s business.
get one’s feet on the ground and have
one’s feet on the ground to get firmly
established or reestablished. (Also lit-
eral.) He’s new at the job, but soon he’ll
get his feet on the ground. Her produc-
tivity will improve after she gets her feet
on the ground again.
get one’s feet wet to begin something; to
have one’s first experience of something.
(Also literal. Informal. Also with have.
See the note at get a big send-off.) Of
course he can’t do the job right. He’s hardly
got his feet wet yet. I’m looking forward
to learning to drive. I can’t wait to get be-
hind the steering wheel and get my feet
wet. I’ve only been at this job for a
month, and I don’t have my feet wet yet.
get one’s fingers burned to have a bad ex-
perience. (Also literal. Also with have.
See the note at get a big send-off.) I
had my fingers burned the last time I did
this. I tried that once before and got my
fingers burned. I won’t try it again. If
you go swimming and get your fingers
burned, you won’t want to swim again.
get one’s foot in the door to achieve a fa-
vorable position (for further action); to
take the first step in a process. (Refers to
people selling things from door to door
who block the door with a foot so it can-
not be closed on them. Also with have.
See the note at get a big send-off.) I
think I could get the job if I could only get
my foot in the door. It pays to get your
foot in the door. Try to get an appointment
with the boss. I have a better chance
now that I have my foot in the door.
get one’s hands dirty and dirty one’s
hands; soil one’s hands to become in-
volved with something illegal; to do a
shameful thing; to do something that is
beneath one. (Also literal.) The mayor
would never get his hands dirty by giving
away political favors. I will not dirty my
hands by breaking the law. Sally felt that
to talk to the hobo was to soil her hands.
get one’s hands on someone or something and
lay one’s hands on someone or something to
get (a)hold of someone or something; to get
someone or something in one’s grasp.
(Informal. Sometimes said in anger, as if
one may wish to do harm.) Just wait
until I get my hands on Tom. I’ll really give
him something to think about. When I
lay my hands on my book again, I’ll never
lend it to anyone.
get one’s just deserts to get what one de-
serves. I feel better now that Jane got her
just deserts. She really insulted me. Bill
got back exactly the treatment that he gave
out. He got his just deserts.
get one’s just reward(s) to get something
as bad as one deserves. The criminal
who was sent to prison got his just rewards.
I am sure that when he died, he got his
just reward.
get one’s knuckles rapped to receive pun-
ishment. (Also literal. Also with have. See
the note at get a big send-off.) I got my
knuckles rapped for whispering too much.
You will have your knuckles rapped if
you are not careful.
get one’s say to be able to state one’s posi-
tion; to be able to say what one thinks.
(Also with have. See the note at get a big
send-off. See also have a voice (in some-
thing).) I want to have my say on this
matter. He got his say, and then he was
happy.
get one’s sea legs to become accustomed to
the movement of a ship at sea; to be able
to walk steadily on the constantly rolling
and pitching decks of a ship. (Also with
have. See the note at get a big send-off.)
Jean was a little awkward at first, but in
a few days she got her sea legs and was fine.
You may feel a little sick until you get
your sea legs. I will feel better when I
have my sea legs.
get one’s second wind 1. for one’s breath-
ing to become stabilized after exerting
oneself for a short time. (Also with have.
See the note at get a big send-off.) John
was having a hard time running until he
got his second wind. Bill had to quit the
race because he never got his second wind.
“At last,” thought Ann, “I have my sec-
ond wind. Now I can really swim fast.” 2.
to become more active or productive (af-
ter starting off slowly). I usually get my
second wind early in the afternoon.
Mary is a better worker now that she has
her second wind.
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