19 English Phrasal Verbs With Get

19 phrasal verbs with ‘get’

1. GET ACROSS

1. To communicate an idea successfully, to make someone able to understand something
   The local residents got their point across at the council meeting.
   The book really got across what it was like to be a soldier during WWII.

2. GET ALONG

Also: get along with

1. To have a good, friendly relationship with someone
   Harry and I get along really well, but I don’t get along with Lucy at all.
2. To deal with a situation
   I’ve been getting along really well in my new job.

3. GET AROUND

1. To travel to many places
   I’ve been to France, Australia and Mexico this year. I get around!
2. To become known or to circulate information
   Word got around that he was leaving the company.
3. To avoid something difficult
   Is there any way of getting around the rules so that we can bring our dog into the country?
4. To find the time to do something (used with ‘to’)
   I’ll get around to (doing) the washing up once I’ve finished my dinner.

4. GET AT

1. To criticise someone frequently, be unpleasant to someone
   She keeps getting at me for every little thing. I can’t do anything right!
2. To reach something successfully, gain access to
   The kids can’t get at the sweets because I’ve hidden them!
3. To suggest, mean or intend
   When you mentioned “local problems”, what exactly were you getting at?
4. To annoy or irritate someone
   The dogs’ barking outside really started to get at me.

Many of the ‘get’ phrasal verbs in this list also have separate meanings in English slang. These are commonly used by native speakers in daily conversations. For example, ‘get over it!’ means ‘move on or forget about something’ and ‘get out of my face!’ is a rude way of saying ‘leave me alone because you are annoying me’.

5. GET AWAY

1. To leave or escape from someone or something
   Get away from me!
2. To go somewhere to have a rest or holiday
   It’ll be nice to get away! Work has been so stressful this past month.
3. A holiday, often short (noun)
   We enjoyed a weekend getaway in a lovely hotel in the countryside.

6. GET AWAY WITH

1. To avoid getting caught for something you weren’t meant to do
   I got away with sitting in the reserved seats at the cinema!
2. To do something successfully even though it may not be the best choice or way
   I think we could get away with just gluing the wood together, rather than nailing it in place.
   

7. GET BY

1. To manage something with difficulty, to make ends meet
   Some poor families manage to get by on just £10 a day.
2. To succeed with the minimum effort
   He hasn’t revised for his exams at all, but he’s clever enough to get by.
3. To move past something or someone
   Excuse me, could you please move your bag so I can get by?

8. GET DOWN

1. To feel depressed or unhappy
   The political situation at the moment is really getting me down.
2. To party, sometimes dance
   You guys were really getting down last night! Did you have a good time?
3. To swallow food
   I know you don’t like eating vegetables, but you need to get them down.

9. GET DOWN TO

1. To start working on something, especially something you’ve been avoiding
   I must get down to (doing) these tax returns today, or I’ll never finish them!
2. To start work or focus attention on a task
   Ok, let’s get down to business!

10. GET OFF

1. To physically leave a mode of transport
   The traffic is terrible! Let’s get off at the next stop and walk.
2. To leave work, usually at the end of the day
   What time do you get off tonight?
3. To avoid something more serious
   He got off with an automatic fine, but we thought he’d have to go to court.
4. To experience pleasure or a high
   John got off on extreme sports like paragliding.
5. To kiss, make out or have sex with someone
   I heard that Harry and Emma got off at the party!
6. To secure the release of a defendant in court, to be acquitted
   The thief was clearly guilty, but his lawyer got him off.
7. To succeed in doing something
   The annual meeting got off to a good start.

Be careful when using ‘get on/off’ vs. ‘get into/out of’. These phrasal verbs are used differently depending on the type of transport. We say ‘get on/off’ for big vehicles like buses, trams, trains, planes and ships. However, we say ‘get into/out of’ for cars, vans, lorries, boats and other smaller modes of transport. Bicycle is an exception – there is no “inside” (it only has surfaces) so it takes ‘get on/off’.

11. GET ON

1. To physically put yourself on or in something
   We got on the bus at the usual stop.
2. To have a good relationship with someone
   They’re brother and sister but don’t get on very well.
3. To grow old
   I saw Uncle Max the other day. He’s getting on, isn’t he?!
4. To manage a situation or continue a task
   How are you getting on with renovating your new house?
5. Becoming late
   It’s getting on a bit and will be dark soon.
6. Almost or nearly
   She must be getting on for 30, I would think.

12. GET ON WITH

1. To push or hurry somebody
   You’re peeling those potatoes so slowly. Get on with it!
2. To start or continue doing something
   I’ll leave you to get on with the report.
   I’d better get on with these tax returns.

13. GET OUT

1. To leave a place
   They were in Thailand during the Tsunami and were lucky to get out alive.
2. To become known
   Word got out about the wedding, even though they wanted to keep it a secret.
3. To go and visit somewhere
   Why don’t we get out to the countryside this coming weekend?
4. When you don’t believe someone, expression of shock/surprise (Amer. Eng)
   ‘My dad’s going sky diving for my 70^th birthday!’
   ‘Get out (of here)!

The slang expression ‘get out (of here)’ is common in American English. However, in the UK native speakers are more likely to use one of the following expressions to show they are surprised or shocked: ‘(Are) you having a laugh?’, ‘You must be joking/kidding!’, ‘Seriously?’, ‘My word!’ (posh), ‘Bloody hell!’, ‘Really?!’.

14. GET OUT OF

1. To avoid something
   She got out of the washing-up by saying she had homework to finish.
2. To physically remove yourself from somewhere
   When I saw the cyclist coming I got out of the way.
3. To stop doing something
   I used to sing in a choir three times a week, but I got out of it last year.

15. GET OVER

1. To recover from something, usually an illness or unhappiness
   It was really hard when Dave and I split up, but I got over it eventually.
   I had the flu all last week and I’m still getting over it.
2. To accept something that you’re unhappy about
   I was a little disappointed I didn’t get the job, but I got over it.
3. To overcome something
   She managed to get over her shyness and give a speech at the wedding.

16. GET RID OF

1. To eliminate or throw something away
   I want to get rid of all these boxes. They’ve been lying around for ages!
   Let’s get rid of all this mess before mum comes home.

17. GET THROUGH TO

1. To succeed in talking to someone on the telephone
   I had to wait for over ten minutes, but in the end I managed to get through to someone in the Customer Service Department.
2. To communicate successfully with someone, be understood
   We finally managed to get through to him and he agreed to get some therapy.

18. GET UP

1. To stand up
   We all got up to let the elderly lady past.
2. An outfit or costume (noun)
   He was in a farmers get-up and looked very funny!
3. To climb or ascend
   We managed to get up the mountain in about 3 hours.
4. To arise from bed, to start the day
   I got up at 10am this morning as I didn’t have work.

19. GET UP TO

1. To do something (often something mischievous)
   What have you been getting up to?
   Lucy’s always getting up to no good!

Exercises: phrasal verbs with ‘get’

Esther Kersley
— Staff Writer

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