get

get one’s wires crossed to get confused

about something. (Informal. As if one’s

brain were an electrical circuit. Also with

have. See the note at get a big send-off.)

You don’t know what you are talking

about. You really have your wires crossed!

Joan got her wires crossed about who ar-

rived first. It was Bob, not Gary.

get one’s wits about one to pull oneself to-

gether for action; to set one’s mind to

work, especially in a time of stress. (Also

with have. See the note at get a big send-

off.) Let me get my wits about me so I

can figure this out. I don’t have my wits

about me at this time of the morning.

get on someone to pester someone (about

something); to pressure someone. (Also

literal.) John is supposed to empty the

trash every day. He didn’t do it, so I will

have to get on him. It’s time to get on

Bill about his homework. He’s falling

behind.

get on someone’s nerves to irritate some-

one. Please stop whistling. It’s getting on

my nerves. All this arguing is getting on

their nerves.

get on the bandwagon and jump on the

bandwagon to join the popular side (of

an issue); to take a popular position.

You really should get on the bandwagon.

Everyone else is. Jane has always had her

own ideas about things. She’s not the kind

of person to jump on the bandwagon.

get on the good side of someone to get in

someone’s favor. You had better behave

properly if you want to get on the good side

of Mary. If you want to get on the good

side of your teacher, you must do your

homework.

get on (with someone or something) and get

along (with someone or something) 1. [with

someone] to be friends with someone; to

have a good relationship with someone.

(The friendship is always assumed to be

good unless it is stated to be otherwise.)

How do you get on with John? I get

along with John just fine. We get along.

I don’t get on with John. We don’t get

along. 2. [with something] to continue

with something. I must get on with my

work. Now that the crisis is over, I’ll get

on with my life.

get out from under someone or something 1.

[with someone] to get free of someone’s

control. Mary wanted to get out from

under her mother. We started our own

business because we needed to get out from

under our employer. 2. [with something]

to get free of a burdensome problem.

I can’t go out tonight until I get out from

under this pile of homework. There is so

much work to do! I don’t know when I’ll

ever get out from under it.

get out of a jam to get free from a prob-

lem or a bad situation. Would you lend

me five dollars? I need it to get out of a

jam. I need some help getting out of a

jam.

get out of a mess to get free of a bad sit-

uation. (Informal. Also with this, such a,

etc. See the examples. Compare this with

get into a mess.) How can anyone get

out of a mess like this? Please help me

get out of this mess!

get out of someone’s way and get out

of the way to move out of the path or

route. Will you please get out of the

way? The dog got out of Jane’s way just

before she stepped on it.

get out of the way Go to get out of some-

one’s way.

get out of the wrong side of the bed Go

to get up on the wrong side of the bed.

get out while the getting is good to leave

a place while it is still possible to do so;

to withdraw from a place, position, or

some organization at an opportune time.

The party was getting noisy enough that

one of the neighbors was bound to call the

police, so we left. We always get out while

the getting is good. Everyone at my of-

fice was being required to do more and

more work. I decided to get out while the

getting was good. I quit.

get over someone or something to recover from

someone or something. Now that Bob

has left me, I have to learn to get over him.

It was a horrible shock. I don’t know

when I’ll get over it. It was a serious ill-

ness. It took two weeks to get over it.

get physical (with someone) 1. to use phys-

ical force against someone. The coach

got in trouble for getting physical with

some members of the team. When the

suspect wouldn’t cooperate, the police were

forced to get physical. 2. to touch some-

one in lovemaking. I’ve heard that Bill

tends to get physical with his dates. I

don’t care if he gets physical—within

reason.

get ready (to do something) to prepare to do

something. Get ready to jump! It’s

time to get ready to go to work. It’s time

to get ready.

get religion to become serious (about

something), usually after a powerful ex-

perience; to develop a strong religious be-

lief. (Folksy. Also with have. See the note

at get a big send-off.) I’ve always had

religion. I don’t need a crisis to make me

get it. When I had an automobile acci-

dent, I really got religion. Now I’m a very

safe driver. Soldiers often say they got

religion in the midst of a battle.

get rid of someone or something to get free of

someone or something; to dispose of or

destroy someone or something. I’m

trying to get rid of Mr. Smith. He’s both-

ering me. I’ll be happy when I get rid

of my old car.

get right on something to do something im-

mediately. I know it has to be done to-

day. I’ll get right on it. Please get right

on these reports as soon as possible.

get rolling to get started. (Informal.)

Come on. It’s time to leave. Let’s get rolling!

Bill, it’s 6:30. Time to get up and get

rolling!

get second thoughts about someone or

something to have new doubts about some-

one or something. (Also with have. See

the note at get a big send-off.) I’m be-

ginning to get second thoughts about Tom.

Tom is getting second thoughts about it,

too. We now have second thoughts about

going to Canada.

get sick 1. to become ill (perhaps with

vomiting). I got sick and couldn’t go to

school. My whole family got sick with

the f lu. 2. to vomit. (A euphemism.)

Mommy, the dog just got sick on the car-

pet. Bill got sick in the hallway.

get sidetracked to become diverted from

one’s task; to start off on a second task

before the first one is finished. I’m

sorry the work is not completed. I got side-

tracked. Pay attention to what you are

doing and don’t get sidetracked.

get someone down to depress someone; to

make someone sad. Try not to let all

your problems get you down. She is very

cheerful and practically nothing gets her

down.

get (someone) off the hook to free some-

one from an obligation. (Informal. When

someone is omitted, this refers to oneself.)

Thanks for getting me off the hook. I

didn’t want to attend that meeting. I

couldn’t get off the hook by myself.

get someone or something across Go to put

someone or something across.

get someone or something down 1. [with

something] to manage to swallow some-

thing, especially something large or un-

pleasant. The pill was huge, but I got it

down. It was the worst food I have ever

had, but I got it down somehow. 2. [with

someone] to depress a person; to make a

person very sad. (Also with have. See the

note at get a big send-off.) My dog ran

away, and it really got me down. Oh,

that’s too bad. Don’t let it get you down.

All my troubles really have me down.

get someone or something out of one’s head

Go to get someone or something out of one’s

mind.

get someone or something out of the way to

remove someone or something out of the

path or route. Get your big feet out of

my way! Please get your child out of the

way!

get someone out of a jam to free someone

from a problem or a bad situation. (In-

formal. Compare this with in a jam.)

I like John. He got me out of a jam once.

I would be glad to help get you out of a

jam

get someone over a barrel and get someone

under one’s thumb [for someone] to be

put at the mercy of someone; to get control

over someone. (Informal. Also with have.

See the note at get a big send-off.) He

got me over a barrel, and I had to do what

he said. Ann will do exactly what I say.

I’ve got her over a barrel. All right, John.

You’ve got me under your thumb. What do

you want me to do?

get someone’s back up Go to get someone’s

dander up.

get someone’s dander up and get someone’s

back up; get someone’s hackles up; get

someone’s Irish up to make someone get

angry. (Informal. Also with have. See the

note at get a big send-off.) Now, don’t

get your dander up. Calm down. I in-

sulted him and really got his hackles up.

Bob had his Irish up all day yesterday. I

don’t know what was wrong. She really

got her back up when I asked her for

money. Now, now, don’t get your hack-

les up. I didn’t mean any harm.

get someone’s ear to get someone to listen

(to you). (Also with have. See the note

at get a big send-off. Compare this with

bend someone’s ear.) He got my ear and

talked for an hour. While I have your

ear, I’d like to tell you about something I’m

selling.

get someone’s eye Go to catch someone’s eye.

get someone’s hackles up Go to get someone’s

dander up.

get someone’s Irish up Go to get someone’s

dander up.

get someone’s number 1. to find out some-

one’s telephone number. (Also with have.

See the note at get a big send-off.) As

soon as I get Mary’s number, I’ll call her.

I have her number. Do you want me to

write it down for you? 2. to find out about

a person; to learn the key to understand-

ing a person. (Informal.) I’m going to

get your number if I can. You’re a real puz-

zle.   I’ve got Tom’s number. He’s

ambitious.

get someone under one’s thumb Go to get

someone over a barrel.

get something and get it 1. to receive pun-

ishment. (Also literal meaning to receive

something or to contract a disease.)

Bill broke the window, and he’s really go-

ing to get a scolding. John got it for ar-

riving late at school. 2. to receive the

meaning of a joke; to understand some-

thing. John told a joke, but I didn’t get

it. Bob laughed very hard, but Mary

didn’t get it.

get something across (to someone) to convey

information to someone; to teach some-

one. I’m trying to get this across to you.

Please pay attention. I’ll keep trying un-

til I get it across.

get something into someone’s thick head Go

to get something through someone’s thick

skull.

get something off one’s chest to tell some-

thing that has been bothering you. (Also

with have. See the note at get a big send-

off.) I have to get this off my chest. I

broke your window with a stone. I knew

I’d feel better when I had that off my chest.

get something off (the ground) to get some-

thing started. (Also literal.) I can re-

lax after I get this project off the ground.

You’ll have a lot of free time when you

get the project off.

get something on someone to learn something

potentially damaging to someone. (Also

with have. See the note at get a big send-

off.) Tom is always trying to get some-

thing on me. I can’t imagine why. If he

has something on you, he’ll have you over

a barrel. If he gets something on you,

you ought to get something on him.

get something out in the open to make

something public; to stop hiding a fact or

a secret. We had better get this out in

the open before the press gets wind of it.

I’ll feel better when it’s out in the open.

I can’t stand all of this secrecy.

get something out of something to get some

kind of benefit from something. I did-

n’t get anything out of the lecture. I’m

always able to get something helpful out

of our conversations.

get something over (with) to complete

something, especially something you

have dreaded. (Also with have. See the

note at get a big send-off.) Oh, please

hurry and get it over with. It hurts.

Please get it over. When I have this over

with, I can relax.

get something straight to understand some-

thing clearly. (Informal. Also with have.

See the note at get a big send-off.) Now

get this straight. You’re going to fail history.

Let me get this straight. I’m supposed

to go there in the morning? Let me make

sure I have this straight.

get something to go Go to buy something to

go.

get something under one’s belt 1. to eat or

drink something. (This means the food

goes into one’s stomach and is under

one’s belt. Informal. Also with have. See

the note at get a big send-off.) I’d feel

a lot better if I had a cool drink under my

belt. Come in out of the cold and get a

nice warm meal under your belt. 2. to

learn something well; to assimilate some

information. I have to study tonight. I

have to get a lot of algebra under my belt.

Now that I have my lessons under my

belt, I can rest easy.

get something under way to get something

started. (Also with have. See the note at

get a big send-off.) The time has come

to get this meeting under way. Now that

the president has the meeting under way,

I can relax.

get something wrapped up Go to get some-

thing sewed up.

get the advantage over someone Go to get

the advantage of someone.

get the air to be ignored or sent away. (See

also give someone the air.) Whenever I

get around Tom, I end up getting the air.

I hate to get the air. It makes me feel

unwanted.

get the ax Go to get the sack.

get the ball rolling and set the ball

rolling; start the ball rolling to start

something; to get some process going.

(Informal. Also with have. See the note

at get a big send-off.) If I could just get

the ball rolling, then other people would

help.  Who else would start the ball

rolling? I had the ball rolling, but no one

helped me with the project. Ann set the

ball rolling, but didn’t follow through.

get the benefit of the doubt to receive a

judgment in your favor when the evi-

dence is neither for you nor against you.

(Also with have. See the note at get a big

send-off. See also give someone the bene-

fit of the doubt.) In my math course, I

was right between a B and an A. I got the

benefit of the doubt—an A. I thought I

should have had the benefit of the doubt,

but the judge made me pay a fine.

get the best of someone Go to get the bet-

ter of someone.

get the boot to be sent away (from some-

where); to be dismissed from one’s em-

ployment; to be kicked out (of a place).

(Slang. See also get the sack; give some-

one the boot.) I guess I wasn’t dressed

well enough to go in there. I got the boot.

I’ll work harder at my job today. I nearly

got the boot yesterday.

get the brush-off to be ignored or sent

away; to be rejected. (Slang.) Don’t talk

to Tom. You’ll just get the brush-off. I

went up to her and asked for a date, but I

got the brush-off.

get the cold shoulder to be ignored; to

be rejected. (Informal. See also give some-

one the cold shoulder.) If you invite her

to a party, you’ll just get the cold shoul-

I thought that Sally and I were

friends, but lately I’ve been getting the cold

shoulder.

get the creeps and get the willies to be-

come frightened; to become uneasy.

(Slang. Also with have. See the note at get

a big send-off.) I get the creeps when I

see that old house. I really had the willies

when I went down into the basement.

get the day off to have a day free from

working. (Also with have. See the note

at get a big send-off. See also take the day

off.) The next time I get a day off, we’ll

go to the zoo. I have the day off. Let’s

go to the zoo.

get the devil and catch hell; catch the

devil; get hell to receive a severe scold-

ing. (Informal. Use caution with hell.)

Bill is always getting the devil about some-

thing. I’m late. If I don’t get home soon,

I’ll catch hell! I caught the devil yester-

day for being late.

get the edge on someone Go to get the ad-

vantage of someone.

get the edge over someone Go to get the

advantage of someone.

get the facts straight to get a good un-

derstanding of the facts; to make sure

that all the facts are accurate and prop-

erly stated. Ask a lot of questions and

get all of the facts straight. Please be sure

you get the facts straight before you make

a decision.

get the feel of something and get a feel for

something [for someone] to learn the way

something feels (when it is used). (Also

with have. See the note at get a big send-

off. See also have the feel of something.)

I haven’t yet got the feel of this bat. I hope

I don’t strike out. I can drive better now

that I have the feel of this car’s steering.

get the final word Go to get the last word.

get the floor to receive official permission

to address the audience. (Also with have.

See the note at get a big send-off.)

When I get the f loor, I’ll make a short

speech. The last time you had the f loor,

you talked for an hour.

get the gate to be sent away; to be rejected.

(Slang. See also give someone the gate.)

I thought he liked me, but I got the gate.

I was afraid I’d get the gate, and I was

right.

get the glad hand to receive an overly

friendly welcome; to receive insincere at-

tention. (Informal.) Whenever I go into

that store, I get the glad hand. I hate to

go to a party and get the glad hand.

get the go-ahead and get the green

light to receive a signal to start or con-

tinue. (Also with have. See the note at get

a big send-off. See also give someone the

go-ahead.) We have to wait here until

we have the go-ahead. I hope we get the

green light on our project soon.

get the goods on someone to find out

something potentially damaging or em-

barrassing about someone. (Slang. Also

with have. See the note at get a big send-

off.) John beat me unfairly in tennis, but

I’ll get even. I’ll get the goods on him and

his cheating. The authorities have the

goods on Mr. Smith. He has been selling

worthless land again.

get the green light Go to get the go-ahead.

get the hang of something to learn how to

do something; to learn how something

works. (Informal. Also with have. See the

note at get a big send-off.) As soon as

I get the hang of this computer, I’ll be able

to work faster. Now that I have the hang

of starting the car in cold weather, I won’t

have to get up so early.

get the hard sell to receive considerable

pressure to buy or accept (something).

(Informal.) I won’t go to that store

again. I really got the hard sell. You’ll

probably get the hard sell if you go to a

used-car dealer.

get the high sign to receive a prearranged

signal. (Often refers to a hand signal or

some other visual signal.) When I got

the high sign, I pulled cautiously out into

the roadway. The train’s engineer got the

high sign and began to move the train out

of the station.

get the inside track to get the advantage

(over someone) because of special con-

nections, special knowledge, or fa-

voritism. (The inside track is the short-

est track in an oval race track that is

divided into tracks. Also with have. See

the note at get a big send-off.) If I could

get the inside track, I could win the con-

tract. The boss likes me. Since I have the

inside track, I’ll probably be the new of-

fice manager.

get the last laugh to laugh at or ridicule

someone who has laughed at or ridiculed

you; to put someone in the same bad po-

sition that you were once in; to turn the

tables (on someone). (Also with have.

See the note at get a big send-off. See also

He who laughs last, laughs longest.)

John laughed when I got a D on the final

exam. I got the last laugh, though. He

failed the course. Mr. Smith said I was

foolish when I bought an old building. I

had the last laugh when I sold it a month

later for twice what I paid for it.

get the last word and get the final word

to get to make the final point (in an ar-

gument); to get to make the final deci-

sion (in some matter). (Also with have.

See the note at get a big send-off.) The

boss gets the last word in hiring. Why do

you always have to have the final word in

an argument?

get the lead out and shake the lead out

to hurry; to move faster. (Slang. This

means to get the lead weights out of your

pants so you can move faster.) Come

on, you guys. Get the lead out! If you’re

going to sell cars, you’re going to have to

shake the lead out.

get the low-down (on someone or something)

to receive the full story about someone or

something. (Slang. Also with have. See

the note at get a big send-off. See also give

someone the low-down (on someone or some-

thing).) I need to get the low-down on

John. Is he still an accountant? Sally

wants to get the low-down on the new ex-

pressway. Please tell her all about it.

Now I have the low-down on the princess!

get the message Go to get the word.

get the nod to get chosen. (Informal. Also

with have. See the note at get a big send-

off.) The manager is going to pick the

new sales manager. I think Ann will get the

nod. I had the nod for captain of the

team, but I decided not to do it.

get the (old) heave-ho to get thrown out

(of a place); to get dismissed (from one’s

employment). (Informal. From nautical

use, where sailors used heave-ho to co-

ordinate hard physical labor. One sailor

called “Heave-ho,” and all the sailors

would pull at the same time on the ho.

Also with have. See the note at get a big

send-off. See also give someone or something

the (old) heave-ho.) I went there to buy

a record album, but I got the old heave-

ho. That’s right. They threw me out!

They fired a number of people today, but

I didn’t get the heave-ho. John had the

old heave-ho last week. Now he’s

unemployed.

get the once-over to receive a quick visual

examination. (Note the variations in the

examples. See also give someone the once-

over.) Every time John walks by I get the

once-over. Does he like me? I went to the

doctor yesterday, but I only had a once-

over. I wanted a complete examination,

not just a once-over.

get the picture to understand the whole

situation. (Informal or slang.) Okay,

Bob. That’s the whole explanation. You get

the picture? Yes, I got the picture.

get the red-carpet treatment to receive

very special treatment; to receive royal

treatment. (This refers—sometimes lit-

erally—to the rolling out of a clean red

carpet for someone to walk on. Also with

have. See the note at get a big send-off.

See also give someone the red-carpet treat-

ment; roll out the red carpet for some-

one.) I love to go to fancy stores where

I get the red-carpet treatment.  The

queen expects to get the red-carpet treat-

ment wherever she goes.

get the runaround to receive a series of ex-

cuses, delays, and referrals. You’ll get

the runaround if you ask to see the man-

ager. I hate it when I get the runaround.

get the sack and get the ax to get fired;

to be dismissed (from one’s employ-

ment). (Slang. See also give someone the

ax.) I got the sack yesterday. Now I have

to find a new job. I tried to work harder,

but I got the ax anyway.

get the shock of one’s life to receive a se-

rious (emotional) shock. (Also with have.

See the note at get a big send-off.) I

opened the telegram and got the shock of

my life. I had the shock of my life when

I won $5,000.

get the short end of the stick and end

up with the short end of the stick to

end up with less (than someone else); to

end up cheated or deceived. (Also with

have. See the note at get a big send-off.)

Why do I always get the short end of the

stick? I want my fair share! She’s un-

happy because she has the short end of the

stick again. I hate to end up with the

short end of the stick.

get the show on the road to get (some-

thing) started. (Slang.) Hurry up, you

guys. Let’s get the show on the road. If

you don’t get the show on the road right

now, we’ll never finish today.

get the slip [for someone] to elude or es-

cape (someone). (Slang.) We followed

her for two blocks, and then got the slip.

The police got the slip, and the crimi-

nal got away.

get the third degree to be questioned in

great detail for a long period. (Slang. See

also give someone the third degree.)

Why is it I get the third degree from you

every time I come home late? Poor Sally

spent all night at the police station getting

the third degree.

get the willies Go to get the creeps.

get the word and get the message to re-

ceive an explanation; to receive the final

and authoritative explanation. I’m

sorry, I didn’t get the word. I didn’t know

the matter had been settled. Now that

I have gotten the message, I can be more

effective in answering questions.

get the works to receive a lot of some-

thing. (Slang. The works can be a lot of

food, good treatment, bad treatment, etc.

See also give someone the works.) BILL:

Shall we order a snack or a big meal?

JANE: I’m hungry. Let’s get the works.

But, your honor. I shouldn’t get the works.

I only drove too fast!

get the worst of something to experience the

worst aspects of something. (Also with

have. See the note at get a big send-off.)

No matter what happens at the office,

I seem to get the worst of it. He always

gets the worst of the bargain. I got to

choose which one I wanted, but I still got

the worst of the two.

get through something 1. to finish some-

thing; to work one’s way through some-

thing. (Compare this with get through

with something.) If I read fast, I can get

through this book in an hour. I don’t

think I can get through all this work by

quitting time. 2. to survive something; to

go through something. This is a busy day.

I don’t know how I’ll get through it.

Sally hopes to get through college in three

years.

get through with something to get finished

with something. (Compare this with get

through something.) You can use this pen-

cil when I get through with it. Can I

have the salt when you get through with it?

get time off for good behavior to have

one’s prison sentence shortened because

of good behavior. (Also with have. See

the note at get a big send-off.) Bob will

get out of jail tomorrow rather than next

week. He got time off for good behavior.

I know I will have time off for good

behavior.

get time to catch one’s breath to find

enough time to relax or behave normally.

(Also literal. Also with have. See the note

at get a big send-off.) When things slow

down around here, I’ll get time to catch my

breath. Sally was so busy she didn’t even

have time to catch her breath.

get to first base (with someone or something)

and reach first base (with someone or

something) to make a major advance with

someone or something. (Informal. First

base refers to baseball.) I wish I could

get to first base with this business deal.

John adores Sally, but he can’t even reach

first base with her. She won’t even speak to

him. He smiles and acts friendly, but he

can’t get to first base.

get to one’s feet to stand up. On a sig-

nal from the director, the singers got to

their feet. I was so weak, I could hardly

get to my feet.

get to someone to affect someone emotion-

ally in a bad way; to bother someone.

Working with abandoned children even-

tually got to David, and he had to trans-

fer to another department. Nothing gets

to me like seeing people litter.

get to the bottom of something to get an

understanding of the causes of some-

thing. (Also literal.) We must get to the

bottom of this problem immediately.

There is clearly something wrong here, and

I want to get to the bottom of it.

get to the heart of the matter and get

at the heart of the matter to get to the

essentials of a matter. We have to stop

wasting time and get to the heart of the

You’ve been very helpful. You

really seem to be able to get to the heart

of the matter.

get to the root of the problem to gain

an understanding of the causes or basis

of a problem and propose a solution; to

get to the bottom of something.

take a little more study to get to the root

of the problem. Let’s stop avoiding the

issue and get to the root of the problem.

get tough (with someone) to become firm

with someone; to use physical force

against someone. (Compare this with get

physical (with someone).) The teacher

had to get tough with the class because the

students were acting badly. I’ve tried to

get you to behave, but it looks like I’ll have

to get tough.

get two strikes against one to get a num-

ber of things against one; to be in a po-

sition where success is unlikely. (From

baseball where one is “out” after three

strikes. Also with have. See the note at get

a big send-off.) Poor Bob got two strikes

against him when he tried to explain

where he was last night. I can’t win. I’ve

got two strikes against me before I start.

get under someone’s skin to bother or irri-

tate someone. (Informal.) John is so

annoying. He really gets under my skin.

I know he’s bothersome, but don’t let him

get under your skin.

get under way to start going; to start. (The

word get can be replaced with be. Com-

pare this with get something under way.)

The ship is leaving soon. It’s about to get

under way. Let us get our journey un-

der way. I’m glad our project is under

way.

get-up-and-go energy; motivation. I

must be getting old. I just don’t have my

old get-up-and-go. A good breakfast will

give you lots of get-up-and-go.

get up enough nerve (to do something) to

get brave enough to do something. I

could never get up enough nerve to sing in

public. I’d do it if I could get up enough

nerve, but I’m shy.

get up on the wrong side of the bed and

get out of the wrong side of the bed

to get up in the morning in a bad mood.

What’s wrong with you? Did you get up

on the wrong side of the bed today? Ex-

cuse me for being grouchy. I got out of the

wrong side of the bed.

get used to someone or something to become

accustomed to someone or something.

I got used to being short many years ago.

John is nice, but I really can’t get used to

him. He talks too much.

get well to become healthy again. Ann

had a cold for a week, and then she got

well. Hurry up and get well!

get wet to become soaked with water. (See

also all wet.) Get out of the rain or you’ll

get wet. Don’t get wet, or you’ll catch a

cold.

get what’s coming to one to get what one

deserves. (See also give one what’s com-

ing to one.) If you cheat, you’ll get in

trouble. You’ll get what’s coming to you.

Billy got what was coming to him.

get wind of something to hear about some-

thing; to receive information about

something. (Informal.) I just got wind

of your marriage. Congratulations.

Wait until the boss gets wind of this. Some-

body is going to get in trouble.

get wise (to someone or something) to find out

about someone or something; to see

through the deception of someone or

something. (Informal or slang.) Watch

out, John. Your friends are getting wise to

your tricks. John’s friends are getting

wise. He had better watch out.

get with something 1. to become alert.

(Slang. Usually with it.) Hey, stupid.

Get with it!  Wake up, Bill. Get with

what’s going on! 2. to get up to date on

something. (Slang. Usually with it.)

You’re too old-fashioned, Mary. Get with

it! Tom just couldn’t get with the newest

dance fad.

get worked up (about something) Go to get

worked up (over something).

a ghost of a chance even the slightest

chance; even the most insubstantial

chance. She can’t do it. She doesn’t have

a ghost of a chance. There is just a ghost

of a chance that I’ll be there on time.

gild the lily to add ornament or decoration

to something that is pleasing in its orig-

inal state; to attempt to improve some-

thing that is already fine the way it is.

(Often refers to flattery or exaggeration.)

Your house has lovely brickwork. Don’t

paint it. That would be gilding the lily.

Oh, Sally. You’re beautiful the way you are.

You don’t need makeup. You would be gild-

ing the lily.

gird (up) one’s loins to get ready; to pre-

pare oneself (for something). Well, I

guess I had better gird up my loins and go

to work. Somebody has to do something

about the problem. Why don’t you gird

your loins and do something?