get

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.