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other boys, so they had to gang up on him to put him in his place./
Compare: LINE UP(4b).
[garbage down] {v. phr.}, {slang} To eat eagerly and at great speed
without much regard for manners or social convention. * /The children
garbaged down their food./
[garden apartment] {n.} An apartment with a garden near it. * /The
couple live in a garden apartment./
[garment] See: FOUNDATION GARMENT.
[gas] See: STEP ON IT or STEP ON THE GAS.
[gasket] See: BLOW A FUSE or BLOW A GASKET.
[gas up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To fill the gasoline tank of. * /The
mechanics gassed up the planes for their long trip./ 2. To fill the
tank with gasoline. * /The big truck stopped at the filling station
and gassed up./
[gate] See: GET THE BOUNCE or GET THE GATE, GIVE THE BOUNCE or GIVE
THE GATE.
[gate crasher] See: CRASH THE GATE.
[gather] See: ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS.
[gather in] {v.}, {informal} To catch. * /The end gathered in the
pass and went over for a touchdown./
[gauntlet] See: RUN THE GAUNTLET, THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET.
[gay nineties] {n.} The years between 1890 and 1900; remembered as
a happy exciting time. * /Ladies wore large hats in the gay nineties./
* /Picnics were popular in the gay nineties./
[gaze] See: CRYSTAL GAZING.
[gear] See: HIGH GEAR, SLIP A COG or SLIP A GEAR, THROW OUT OF
GEAR.
[geese] See: FOX AND GEESE.
[gee whiz] {interj.}, {informal} Used as an exclamation to show
surprise or other strong feeling. Rare in written English. * /Gee
whiz! I am late again./
[general] See: IN GENERAL.
[generation gap] {n.}, {informal}, {hackneyed phrase} The
difference in social values, philosophies, and manners between
children and their parents, teachers and relatives which causes a lack
of understanding between them and frequently leads to violent
confrontations. * /My daughter is twenty and I am forty, but we have
no generation gap in our family./
[generous to a fault] {adj. phr.} Excessively generous. * /Generous
to a fault, my Aunt Elizabeth gave away all her rare books to her old
college./
[George] See: LET GEORGE DO IT.
[get] See: GIVE AS GOOD AS ONE GETS, EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM or
EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM, GO-GETTER, TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF.
[get about] See: GET AROUND(1b).
[get a black eye] {v. phr.} 1. To receive a dark ring around the
eye after being hit by someone's fist or an object. * /In the
fistfight Tom got a black eye from Pete./ * /Sue got a black eye when
she ran into a tree./ 2. To have one's character denigrated. * /Our
firm received a black eye because of all the consumer complaints that
were lodged against our product./
[get a break] {v. phr.} To receive a stroke of luck. * /Bill got a
break when he won the lottery./
[get across] {v.} 1. To explain clearly, make (something) clear; to
make clear the meaning of. * /Mr. Brown is a good coach because he can
get across the plays./ Syn.: PUT ACROSS. 2. To become clear. * /The
teacher tried to explain the problem, but the explanation did not get
across to the class./
[get after] {v.}, {informal} 1. To try or try again to make someone
do what he is supposed to do. * /Ann's mother gets after her to hang
up her clothes./ 2. To scold or make an attack on. * /Bob's mother got
after him for tracking mud into the house./ * /The police are getting
after the crooks in the city./
[get ahead] {v.} 1. {informal} To become successful. * /Mr. Brown
was a good lawyer and soon began to get ahead./ * /The person with a
good education finds it easier to get ahead./ 2. To be able to save
money; get out of debt. * /In a few more years he will be able to get
ahead./ * /After Father pays all the doctor bills, maybe we can get a
little money ahead and buy a car./
[get a load of] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take a good look at; see
(something unusual or interesting.) - Often used to show surprise or
admiration. * /Get a load of that pretty girl!/ * /Get a load of
Dick's new car!/ Compare: LOOK OVER. 2. To listen to carefully or with
interest, especially exciting news. - Often used as a command: /Get a
load of this: Alice got married yesterday!/
[get along] also [get on] {v.} 1. To go or move away; move on. *
/The policeman told the boys on the street corner to get along./ 2. To
go forward; make progress; advance, * /John is getting along well in
school. He is learning more every day./ Syn.: GET AHEAD. 3. To
advance; become old or late. * /It is getting along towards sundown./
* /Grandmother is 68 and getting along./ 4. To get or make what you
need; manage. * /It isn't easy to get along in the jungle./ * /We can
get along on $100 a week./ Compare: DO WITHOUT(2), GET BY, MAKE DO. 5.
To live or work together in a friendly way; agree, cooperate; not
fight or argue. * /We don't get along with the Jones family./ * /Jim
and Jane get along fine together./ * /Don't be hard to get along
with./
[get a fix] or [give a fix] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {drug culture} To
provide (someone) with an injection of narcotics. * /The neighborhood
pusher gave Joe a fix./ Contrast: GET A FIX ON.
[get a fix on] {v. phr.}, {informal} Receive a reading of a distant
object by electronic means, as by radar or sonar. * /Can you get a fix
on the submarine?/ Contrast: GET A FIX.
[get a grip on] {v. phr.} To take firm control of something. * /If
Tim wants to keep his job, he had better get a grip on himself and
start working harder./ Contrast: LOSE ONE'S GRIP.
[get a head start on] {v. phr.} To receive preliminary help or
instruction in a particular subject so that the recipient is in a
favorable position compared to his or her peers. * /At our school,
children get a head start on their reading ability thanks to a special
program./
[get a kick out of] {v. phr.} To be greatly thrilled; derive
pleasure from. * /Tom and Many get a kick out of playing four hands on
the piano./
[get a line on] {v. phr.} To receive special, sometimes even
confidential information about something. * /Before Bill accepted his
new position, he got a line on how the business was being run./
[get a move on] {informal} or {slang} [get a wiggle on] {v. phr.}
To hurry up; get going. - Often used as a command. * /Get a move on,
or you will be late./
[get a raise] {v. phr.} To receive an increment in salary. *
/Because of his good work, Ted got a raise after May 1./
[get a rise out of] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To have some fun with (a
person) by making (him) angry; tease. * /The boys get a rise out of
Joe by teasing him about his girl friend./ 2. {vulgar}, {avoidable} To
be sexually aroused (said of males) * /Jim always gets a rise out of
watching adult movies./
[get (all) dolled up] See: DOLL UP.
[get along] or [on in years] {v. phr.} To age; grow old. * /My
father is getting along in years; he will be ninety on his next
birthday./
[get an earful] {v. phr.}, {informal} To hear more (of usually
unwelcome news) than one expects or wishes to hear. * /I asked how Tim
and his wife were getting along, and I certainly got an earful./
Contrast: SAY A MOUTHFUL.
[get around] {v.} 1a. To go to different places; move about. *
/Mary's father really gets around; Monday he was in Washington;
Wednesday he was in Chicago; and today he is in New York./ * /Fred
broke his leg, but he is able to get about on crutches./ 1b. or [get
about] To become widely known especially by being talked about. * /Bad
news gets around quickly./ 2a. {informal} To get by a trick or
flattery what you want from (someone). * /Mary knows how to get around
her father./ 2b. {informal} To find a way of not obeying or doing;
escape from. * /Some people try to get around the tax laws./ * /John
did not weigh enough to join the Navy, but he got around that; he
drank a lot of water before his physical examination./
[get around to] {v.} To do (something) after putting it off; find
time for. * /Mr. Lee hopes to get around to washing his car next
Saturday./
[get at] {v.} 1. To reach an understanding of; find out the
meaning. * /This book is very hard to get at./ 2. To do harm to. *
/The cat is on the chair trying to get at the canary./ Compare: GET
BACK AT. 3. To have a chance to do; attend to. * /I hope I have time
to get at my homework tonight./ Compare: GET TO(2). 4. To mean; aim
at; hint at. * /What was Betty getting at when she said she knew our
secret?/ * /What the teacher was getting at in this lesson was that it
is important to speak correctly./ Syn.: DRIVE AT. Compare: GET ACROSS.
[getaway car] {n. phr.} A vehicle parked near the scene of a crime
in which the criminals escape. * /The police intercepted the getaway
car at a major crossroads./
[get away] {v.} 1. To get loose or get free; become free from being
held or controlled; succeed in leaving; escape. * /As Jim was trying
the bat, it got away from him and hit Tom./ * /Someone left the door
open, and the puppy got away./ * /Mary tried to catch a butterfly, but
it got away from her./ * /The bank robbers used a stolen car to get
away./ * /If Mr. Graham can get away from his store this afternoon, he
will take Johnny fishing./ 2. To begin; start. * /We got away early in
the morning on the first day of our vacation./ * /The race got away to
a fast start./ Compare: GET OFF(3), START IN, START OUT.
[get away with] {v.}, {informal} To do (something bad or wrong)
without being caught or punished. * /Some students get away without
doing their homework./ See: GET BY(3).
[get away with murder] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something very
bad without being caught or punished. * /John is scolded if he is late
with his homework, but Robert gets away with murder./ * /Mrs. Smith
lets her children get away with murder./
[get a wiggle on] See: GET A MOVE ON.
[get a word in] or [get a word in edgewise] also [get a word in
edgeways] {v. phr.} To find a chance to say something when others are
talking. * /The little boy listened to the older students and finally
got in a word./ * /Mary talked so much that Jack couldn't get a word
in edgewise./
[get back at] {v.}, {informal} To do something bad to (someone who
has done something bad to you) hurt in return. * /John played a joke
on Henry, and next day Henry got back at him./ * /The elephant waited
many years to get back at the man who fed him red pepper./ Syn.: PAY
BACK, SETTLE A SCORE, TIT FOR TAT. Compare: GET AT(2), GET EVEN.
[get back on one's feet] {v. phr.} To once again become financially
solvent; regain one's former status and income, or health. * /Max got
back on his feet soon after his open heart surgery. Tom's business was
ruined due to the inflation, but he got back on his feet again./
[get behind] {v.} 1. To go too slowly: be late; do something too
slowly. * /The post office got behind in delivering Christmas mail./
Syn.: FALL BEHIND. Contrast: KEEP UP. 2. {informal} To support; help.
* /A club is much better if members get behind their leaders. * /We
got behind Mary to be class president./ Compare: BACK OF(3). 3.
{informal} To explain; find out the reason for. * /The police are
questioning many people to try and get behind the bank robbery./ Syn.:
GET TO THE BOTTOM OF.
[get busy] {v. phr.} To accelerate the pace in one's activities. *
/We've got to get busy if we want to make the deadline./
[get by] {v.}, {informal} 1. To be able to go past; pass. * /The
cars moved to the curb so that the fire engine could get by./ 2. To
satisfy the need or demand. * /Mary can get by with her old coat this
winter./ * /The janitor does just enough work to get by./ Syn.: GET
ALONG(4). 3. Not to be caught and scolded or punished. * /The soldier
thought he could get by with his dirty rifle./ * /The boy got by
without answering the teacher's question because a visitor came in./
Compare: GET AWAY WITH.
[get carried away with] See: CARRY AWAY.
[get couthed up] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get oneself dressed up
neatly and look elegant and presentable. * /What are you getting all
couthed up for?/ (This derives from "uncouth" ("outlandish,
ill-mannered") by leaving off the prefix "un-".)
[get cracking] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To hurry up, to start
moving fast. (Used mostly as an imperative). * /Come on, you guys,
let's get cracking!/ (Let's hurry up!) Compare: GET GOING 2.
[get credit for] {v. phr.} To be given points of merit,
recognition, or praise for labor or intellectual contribution. * /Our
firm got a lot of credit for developing parts of the space shuttle./
Contrast: GIVE CREDIT FOR.
[get one down] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make (someone) unhappy;
cause low spirits; cause discouragement. * /Low grades are getting
Helen down./ * /Three straight losses got the team down./ 2. To
swallow; digest. * /The medicine was so bitter I couldn't get it
down./ 3. To depress a person's spirit. * /Working at such an awful
job got Mike down./
[get down cold] {v. phr.} To memorize perfectly. * /Terry got the
text of his speech down cold./
[get down off your high horse] See: OFF ONE'S HIGH HORSE.
[get down to] {v.}, {informal} To get started on, being on. * /Joe
wasted a lot of time before he got down to work./ * /Let's get down to
work./ Compare: GET AT(3), GET GOING, GET TO.
[get down to brass tacks] also [get down to cases] {v. phr.},
{informal} To begin the most important work or business; get started
on the most important things to talk about or know. * /The men talked
about little things and then got down to brass tacks./ * /A busy
doctor wants his patients to get down to brass tacks./
[get down to business] or [work] {v. phr.} To start being serious;
begin to face a problem to be solved, or a task to be accomplished. *
/Gentlemen, I'm afraid the party is over and we must get down to
business./
[get down to work] See: GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.
[get even] {v.}, {informal} 1. To owe nothing. * /Mr. Johnson has a
lot of debts, but in a few years he will get even./ 2. To do something
bad to pay someone back for something bad; get revenge; hurt back. *
/Jack is waiting to get even with Bill for tearing up his notebook./ *
/Last April First Mr. Harris got fooled by Joe, and this year he will
get even./ Compare: GET BACK AT.
[get going] {v.}, {informal} 1. To excite; stir up and make angry.
* /The boys' teasing gets John going./ * /Talking about her freckles
gets Mary going./ 2. or {chiefly British} [get cracking] To begin to
move; get started. * /The teacher told Walter to get going on his
history lesson./ * /The foreman told the workmen to get cracking./ *
/Let's get going. It's almost supper time./ Compare: GET DOWN TO, STEP
LIVELY.
[get gray hair] or [get gray] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become old
or gray from worrying; become very anxious or worried. - Often used
with "over". * /"If John doesn't join the team, I won't get gray hair
over it," the coach said./ * /Naughty children are why mothers get
gray./ Compare: GIVE GRAY HAIR.
[get his or hers] {v. phr.} To receive one's proper reward or
punishment. * /Tim will get his when his wife finds out that he's been
seeing other women./
[get hitched] {v. phr.} To get married. * /After a long period of
dating, Fred and Mary finally got hitched./
[get hold of] {v.} 1. To get possession of. * /Little children
sometimes get hold of sharp knives and cut themselves./ 2. To find a
person so you can speak with him. * /Mr. Thompson spent several hours
trying to get hold of his lawyer./
[get in] {v. phr.} 1. To be admitted. * /Andy wants to go to
medical school but his grades aren't good enough for him to get in./
2. To arrive. * /What time does the plane from New York get in?/ 3. To
enter. * /"Get in the car, and let's go," Tom said in a hurry./ 4. To
put in stock; receive. * /The store just got in a new shipment of
shoes from China./
[get in on] {v. phr.} To be permitted to participate; become privy
to; be included. * /This is your chance to get in on a wonderful deal
with the new company if you're willing to make an investment./
[get in on the ground floor] {v. phr.} To be one of the first
members or employees to participate in the growth of a firm,
educational institution, etc. * /Elliott got in on the ground floor
and made a fortune at the company./ * /Mr. Smith who joined the new
college as an instructor, got in on the ground floor, and wound up as
its president after twenty years./
[get in on the] or [one's act] {v. phr.} To do something because
others are engaged in the same act; join others. * /John's business is
succeeding so well that both of his brothers want to get in on the
act./
[get in one's hair] See: IN ONE'S HAIR.
[get in one's way] See: IN ONE'S WAY.
[get into] See: BE INTO SOMETHING.
[get into line] {v. phr.} To cooperate; conform. * /The maverick
members of the party were advised to get into line unless they wanted
to be expelled./ Contrast: OUT OF LINE.
[get in touch with] See: IN TOUCH.
[get involved with] See: BE INVOLVED WITH.
[get in with] {v. phr.} To join up with; begin to associate with;
be accepted by. * /He got in with the wrong gang of boys and wound up
in jail./ * /She got in with her father's firm and made a successful
career of it./
[get in wrong] {v. phr.} To incur the anger or dislike of someone;
come into disfavor. * /Although he means well, Fred is always getting
in wrong with someone at the office./
[get it] {v.} 1. See: CATCH IT. 2. To understand; comprehend;
grasp. * /"I can't get it," John said. "Why do you spend so much on
clothes."/
[get it all together] {v. phr.} 1. To be in full possession and
control of one's mental faculties; have a clear purpose well pursued.
* /You've sure got it all together, haven't you?/ 2. Retaining one's
self-composure under pressure. * /A few minutes after the burglars
left he got it all together and called the police./ 3. To be well
built, stacked (said of girls and women.) * /Sue's sure got it all
together, hasn't she?/
[get it in the neck] See: CATCH IT IN THE NECK.
[get it] or [something in] or [into one's head] {v. phr.} To become
possessed of an idea; develop a fixed idea. * /Jack got it into his
head to become a marine and nothing we could say would make him change
his mind./
[get lost] {v. phr.}, {slang} Go away! - Used as a command. * /Get
lost! I want to study./ * /John told Bert to get lost./ Compare: DROP
DEAD.
[get mixed up] See: MIXED UP.
[get next to] See: BE CLOSE TO.
[get off] {v.} 1. To come down from or out of. * /The ladder fell,
and Tom couldn't get off the roof./ * /The bus stopped, the door
opened, and Father got off./ 2. To take off. * /Joe's mother told him
to get his wet clothes off./ 3. To get away; leave. * /Mr. Johnson
goes fishing whenever he can get off from work./ * /William got off
early in the morning./ 4. To go free. * /Mr. Andrews got off with a $5
fine when he was caught passing a stop sign./ 5. To make (something)
go. * /The halfback got off a lung pass./ * /John got a letter off to
his grandmother./ 6. To tell. * /The governor got off several jokes at
the beginning of his speech./
[get off cheap] {v. phr.} 1. To receive a lesser punishment than
one deserves. * /Ted could have been sentenced to fifteen years in
prison; he got off cheap by receiving a reduced sentence of five
years./ 2. To pay less than the normal price. * /If you had your car
repaired for only $75, you got off cheap./ Contrast: GET AWAY WITH.
[get off easy] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have only a little trouble;
escape something worse. * /The children who missed school to go to the
fair got off easy./ * /John got off easy because it was the first time
he had taken his father's car without permission./
[get off it] See: COME OFF IT.
[get off one's back] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {colloquial} To stop
criticizing or nagging someone. * /"Get off my back! Can't you see how
busy I am?"/
[get off one's case] or [back] or [tail] {v. phr.} To stop
bothering and constantly checking up on someone; quit hounding one. *
/"Get off my case!" he cried angrily. "You're worse than the cops."/
Contrast: ON ONE'S CASE.
[get off one's chest] See: OFF ONE'S CHEST.
[get off one's tail] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get busy, to start
working. * /OK you guys! Get off your tails and get cracking!/
[get off on the wrong foot] {v. phr.} To make a bad start; begin
with a mistake. * /Peggy got off on the wrong foot with her new
teacher; she chewed gum in class and the teacher didn't like it./
[get off the ground] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a successful
beginning; get a good start; go ahead; make progress. * /Our plans for
a party didn't get off the ground because no one could come./
[get off the hook] See: OFF THE HOOK.
[get off to a flying] or [running start] {v. phr.} To have a
promising or successful beginning. * /Ron got off to a flying start in
business school when he got nothing but A's./
[get on] or [get onto] {v.}, {informal} 1. To speak to (someone)
roughly about something he did wrong; blame; scold. * /Mrs. Thompson
got on the girls for not keeping their rooms clean./ * /The fans got
on the new shortstop after he made several errors./ Syn.: JUMP ON. 2.
See: GET ALONG. 3. To grow older. * /Work seems harder these days; I'm
getting on, you know./
[get one's] See: GET WHAT'S COMING TO ONE.
[get one's back up] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become or make angry
or stubborn. * /Fred got his back up when I said he was wrong./ * /Our
criticisms of his actions just got his hack up./
[get one's brains fried] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {also used
colloquially} 1. To sit in the sun and sunbathe for an excessive
length of time. * /Newcomers to Hawaii should be warned not to sit in
the sun too long - they'll get their brains fried./ 2. To get high on
drugs. * /He can't make a coherent sentence anymore - he's got his
brains fried./
[get one's dander up] or [get one's Irish up] {v. phr.} To become
or make angry. * /The boy got his dander up because he couldn't go to
the store./ * /The children get the teacher's dander up when they make
a lot of noise./ Compare: BLOW A FUSE.
[get one's ducks in a row] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get everything
ready. * /The scoutmaster told the boys to get their ducks in a row
before they went to camp./ * /Mr. Brown got his ducks in a row for his
trip./ Compare: LINE UP.
[get one's feet on the ground] See: FEET ON THE GROUND.
[get one's feet wet] {v. phr.}, {informal} To begin; do something
for the first time. * /The party was at Bill's house and when Ruth and
I got there the party had already started. "Jump right in and don't be
afraid to get your feet wet," said Bill./ * /"It's not hard to dance
once you get your feet wet," said the teacher./
[get one's fingers burned] See: BURN ONE'S FINGERS.
[get one's foot in the door] See: FOOT IN THE DOOR.
[get one's goat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a person disgusted
or angry. * /The boy's laziness all summer got his father's goat./ *
/The slow service at the cafe got Mr. Robinson's goat./
[get one's hands on] See: LAY ONE'S HANDS ON.
[get one's number] or [have one's number] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
find out or know what kind of person somebody is. * /The boys soon had
the new student's number./ * /The girls got their new roommate's
number the first week of school./
[get one's rear in gear] {v. phr.}, {slang} To hurry up, to get
going. * /I'm gonna have to get my rear in gear./
[get one's second wind] See: SECOND WIND.
[get one's teeth into] or [sink one's teeth into] {v. phr.},
{informal} To have something real or solid to think about; go to work
on seriously; struggle with. * /After dinner, John got his teeth into
the algebra lesson./ * /Frank chose a subject for his report that he
could sink his teeth into./
[get one's tongue] See: CAT GET ONE'S TONGUE.
[get on in years] See: ALONG IN YEARS.
[get on one's good side] {v. phr.} To gain the favor of someone;
flatter or please another. * /A clever lobbyist knows how to get on
the good side of both the House of Representatives and the Senate./
[get on one's nerves] {v. phr.} To make you nervous. * /John's
noisy eating habits get on your nerves./ * /Children get on their
parents' nerves by asking so many questions./
[get on the ball] See: ON THE BALL.
[get on the bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.
[get on the good side of] See: ON THE GOOD SIDE OF.
[get on the stick] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To get moving; to
stop being idle and to start working vigorously. * /All right, man,
let's get on the stick!/ Compare: ON THE BALL, GET OFF ONE'S TAIL.
[get on to one] {v. phr.} To figure someone out; understand what
someone else is up to. * /The FBI is on to Jim's secret trading with
the enemy./
[get one wrong] {v. phr.} To misinterpret; misunderstand another. *
/Don't get me wrong; I didn 't mean to criticize you./
[get] or [have one's say] See: DAY IN COURT.
[get out] {v. phr.} 1. Leave or depart. * /"Get out of here!" the
teacher shouted angrily to the misbehaving student./ * /"Driver, I
want to get out by the opera."/ 2. To publish; produce. * /Our press
is getting out two new books on ecology./ 3. To escape; leak out. *
/We must not let the news about this secret invention get out./
[get out in the open] See: OUT IN THE OPEN.
[get out of] {v. phr.} 1. To be excused from; avoid. * /He got out
of jury duty because of his illness./ 2. To gain from; extract from. *
/Tom complained that he didn't get anything out of the course on
grammar./
[get out of the way] See: OUT OF THE WAY.
[get out of hand] See: OUT OF HAND, OUT OF CONTROL.
[get over] {v.} 1. To finish. * /Tom worked fast to get his lesson
over./ 2. To pass over. * /It was hard to get over the muddy road./ 3.
To get well from; recover from. * /The man returned to work after he
got over his illness./ 4. To accept or forget (a sorrow or suprise.) *
/It is hard to get over the death of a member of your family./ * /We
could not get over the speed of Mary's recovery from pneumonia./
[get rattled] {v. phr.} To become confused, overexcited, or
nervous. * /The thief got so rattled when he saw the police following
him that he drove his car into a ditch./
[get rid of] See: RID OF.
[get set] {v. phr.} To get ready to start. * /The runners got set./
* /The seniors are getting set for the commencement./
[get short shrift] See: SHORT SHRIFT.
[get something out of one's system] {v. phr.} 1. To eliminate some
food item or drug from one's body. * /John will feel much better once
he gets the addictive sleeping pills out of his system./ 2. To free
oneself of yearning for something in order to liberate oneself from an
unwanted preoccupation. * /Ted bought a new cabin cruiser that he'd
been wanting for a long time, and he says he is glad that he's finally
got it out of his system./
[get something over with] See: OVER WITH(1).
get something straight {v. phr.} To clearly comprehend an issue. *
/"Let me get this straight," Burt said. "You want $85,000 for this
miserable shack?"/
[get stoned] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become very drunk or high on
some drug. * /Poor Fred was so stoned that Tom had to carry him up the
stairs./ Compare: THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND.
[get straight] See: GO STRAIGHT, GO LEGIT.
[get stuck] {v. phr.} 1. To be victimized; be cheated. * /The
Smiths sure got stuck when they bought that secondhand car; it broke
down just two days after they got it./ 2. To become entrapped or
embroiled in a physical, emotional, or social obstacle so as to be
unable to free oneself. * /Last winter our car got stuck in the snow
and we had to walk home./ * /Poor Jeff is stuck in a terrible job./ *
/Tom and Jane are stuck in a bad marriage./
[get (all) the breaks] {v. phr.} To be fortunate; have luck. *
/That fellow gets all the breaks! He's been working here only six
months, and he's already been promoted to vice president!/
[get the air] See: GET THE BOUNCE(1).
[get the ax] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be fired from a job. * /Poor
Joe got the ax at the office yesterday./ 2. To be dismissed from
school for improper conduct, such as cheating. * /Joe got caught
cheating on his final exam and he got the ax./ 3. To have a quarrel
with one's sweetheart or steady ending in a termination of the
relationship. * /Joe got the ax from Betsie - they won't see each
other again./
[get the ball rolling] or [set the ball rolling] or [start the ball
rolling] {informal} To start an activity or action; make a beginning;
begin. * /George started the ball rolling at the party by telling a
new joke./ Compare: KEEP THE BALL ROLLING.
[get the better of] or [get the best of] {v. phr.} 1. To win over,
beat; defeat. * /Our team got the best of the visitors in the last
quarter./ * /George got the better of Robert in a game of checkers./ *
/When the opposing player fouled John, John let his anger get the
better of his good sense and hit the boy back./ * /Dave wanted to
study till midnight, but sleepiness got the best of him./ Compare: RUN
AWAY WITH(1). 2. or [have the best of] or [have the better of] To win
or be ahead in (something); gain most from (something.) * /Bill traded
an old bicycle tire for a horn; he got the best of that deal./ * /Our
team had the best of it today, but they may lose the game tomorrow./ *
/The champion had all the better of it in the last part of the fight./
Contrast: GET THE WORST OF.
[get the boot] or [the gate] or [the sack] See: GET THE AXE.
[get the bounce] or [get the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. or [get
the air] To lose one's sweetheart; not be kept for a friend or lover.
* /Joe is sad because he just got the gate from his girl./ * /Shirley
was afraid she might get the air from her boyfriend if she went out
with other boys while he was away./ 2. or [get the sack] also [get the
hook] To be fired; lose a job. * /Uncle Willie can't keep a job; he
got the sack today for sleeping on the job./ * /You're likely to get
the bounce if you are absent from work too much./ Contrast: GIVE THE
BOUNCE.
[get the brush-off] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be paid no attention;
not be listened to or thought important. * /My idea for a party got
the brush-off from the other children./ 2. To be treated in an unkind
or unfriendly way; be ignored. * /Frank and Jane had an argument, so
the next time he telephoned her, he got the brush-off./ Compare: COLD
SHOULDER, HIGH-HAT. Contrast: BRUSH OFF.
[get the cart before the horse] See: CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
[get the eye] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be looked at, especially
with interest and liking. * /The pretty girl got the eye as she walked
past the boys on the street corner./ 2. To be looked at or stared at,
especially in a cold, unfriendly way. * /When Mary asked if she could
take home the fur coat and pay later, she got the eye from the clerk./
Contrast: GIVE THE EYE.
[get the feel of] {v. phr.} To become used to or learn about,
especially by feeling or handling; get used to the experience or
feeling of; get skill in. * /John had never driven a big car, and it
took a while for him to get the feel of it./ * /You'll get the feel of
the job after you've been there a few weeks./
[get the go-ahead] or [the green light] {v. phr.} To receive the
permission or signal to start or to proceed. * /We had to wait until
we got the go-ahead on our research project./
[get the goods on] or [have the goods on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To
find out true and, often, bad information about; discover what is
wrong with; be able to prove the guilt of. * /Tell the truth, Johnny.
We know who your girl is because we've got the goods on you./ * /The
police had the goods on the burglar before he came to trial./ Compare:
HAVE SOMETHING ON.
[get the hook] See: GET THE BOUNCE(2).
[get the inside track] See: INSIDE TRACK.
[get the jitters] {v. phr.} To become very nervous or excited. * /I
always get the jitters when I sit in an airplane that's about to take
off./
[get the jump on] or [have the jump on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get
ahead of; start before (others); have an advantage over. * /Don't let
the other boys get the jump on you at the beginning of the race./ *
/Our team got the jump on their rivals in the first minutes of play,
and held the lead to win./
[get the last laugh] See: HAVE THE LAST LAUGH.
[get the lead out of one's pants] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get busy;
work faster. * /The captain told the sailors to get the lead out of
their pants./ * /The coach told the players to get the lead out of
their pants./
[get the lowdown on] {v. phr.} To receive the full inside
information on a person or thing. * /We need to get the lowdown on
Peter before we can decide whether or not to hire him./
[get the message] or [get the word] {v. phr.}, {slang} To
understand clearly what is meant. * /The principal talked to the
students about being on time, and most of them got the message./ *
/Mary hinted to her boyfriend that she wanted to break up, but he
didn't gel the message./ Compare: THE PICTURE.
[get the picture] See: THE PICTURE.
[get the runaround] See: RUN AROUND.
[get the sack] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be fired or dismissed from
work. * /John got the sack at the factory last week./ 2. To be told by
one's lover that the relationship is over. * /Joanna gave Sam the
sack./ See: GET THE AX and GET THE BOUNCE(2).
[get the show on the road]{v. phr.}, {informal} To start a program;
get work started. * /It was several years before the rocket scientists
got the show on the road./ Compare: GET THE BALL ROLLING.
[get the third degree] See: THIRD DEGREE.
[get the upper hand on] See: UPPER HAND.
[get the word] See: GET THE MESSAGE.
[get the works] See: THE WORKS.
[get the worst of] also [have the worst of] {v. phr.} To lose; be
defeated or beaten in; suffer most. * /Joe got the worst of the
argument with Molly./ - Often used in the phrase "the worst of it". *
/If you start a fight with Jim, you may get the worst of it./ * /Bill
had the worst of it in his race with Al./ * /Jack traded his knife for
a few marbles; he got the worst of it in that trade./ * /The driver of
the car got the worst of it in the accident./ Contrast: GET THE BETTER
OF(2).
[get through] {v. phr.} 1. To finish. * /Barry got through his
homework by late evening./ 2. To pass a course or an examination. * /I
got through every one of my courses except mathematics./
[get through one's head] {v. phr.} 1. To understand or believe. *
/Jack couldn't get it through his head that his father wouldn't let
him go to camp if his grades didn't improve./ * /At last Mary got it
through her head that she had failed to pass the test./ 2. To make
someone understand or believe. * /I'll get it through his head if it
takes all night./
[get through to] {v.} To be understood by; make (someone)
understand. * /The little boy could not get through to his
housemother./ * /Deaf people sometimes find it hard to get through to
strangers./ * /When the rich boy's father lost his money, it took a
long time for the idea to get through to him that he'd have to work
and support himself./
[get to] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To begin by chance; begin to. -
Used with a verbal noun or an infinitive. * /George meant to save his
dollar, but he got to thinking how good an ice cream cone would taste,
and he spent it./ * /On a rainy day, Sally got to looking around in
the attic and found some old pictures of Father./ * /I got to know
Mary at the party./ * /I was just getting to know John when he moved
away./ Compare: TAKE TO(2). 2. To have a chance to; be able to. * /The
Taylors wanted to go to the beach Saturday, but it rained and they
didn't get to./ * /Did you get to see the king?/ Compare: GET AT(3).
3. See: HAVE TO.
[get to first base] or [reach first base] {v. phr.} To make a good
start; really begin; succeed, * /Joe had a long paper to write for
history class, but when the teacher asked for it, Joe hadn't got to
first base yet./ * /Suppose Sam falls in love with Betty. Can he even
get to first base with her?/ * /George wants to go to college and
become a teacher, but I'll be surprised if he even reaches first
base./ * /If you don't dress neatly, you won't get to first base when
you look for a job./ Compare: FIRST BASE.
[get together] {v.} To come to an agreement; agree. * /Mother says
I should finish my arithmetic lesson, and Father says I should mow the
lawn. Why don't you two get together?/
[get-together] {n.} A party; a gathering. * /I hate to break up
this nice get-together but we must leave./ * /We manage to have a
get-together with our old friends once or twice a year./
[get to the bottom of] {v. phr.} To find out the real cause of. *
/The superintendent talked with several students to get to the bottom
of the trouble./ * /The doctor made several tests to get to the bottom
of the man's headaches./ Compare: GET TO THE HEART OF.
[get to the heart of] {v. phr.} To find the most important facts
about or the central meaning of; understand the most important thing
about. * /You can often get to the heart of people's unhappiness by
letting them talk./ * /"If you can find a topic sentence, often it
will help you get to the heart of the paragraph," said the teacher./
[get to the point] See: COME TO THE POINT.
[get two strikes against one] See: TWO STRIKES AGAINST.
[get underway] {v. phr.} To set out on a journey; start going. *
/We are delighted that our new Ph.D. program finally got underway./
[get under one's skin] {v. phr.} To bother; upset. * /The students
get under Mary's skin by talking about her freckles./ * /Children who
talk too much in class get under the teacher's skin./
[get up] {v.} 1. To get out of bed. * /John's mother told him that
it was time to get up./ 2. To stand up; get to your feet. * /A man
should get up when a woman comes into the room./ 3. To prepare; get
ready. * /Mary got up a picnic for her visitor./ * /The students got
up a special number of the newspaper to celebrate the school's 50th
birthday./ 4. To dress up. * /One of the girls got herself up as a
witch for the Halloween party./ 5. To go ahead. * /The wagon driver
shouted, "Get up!" to his horses./
[get up] or [rise with the chickens] {v. phr.} To rise very early
in the morning. * /All the farmers in this village get up with the
chickens./ Contrast: GO TO BED WITH THE CHICKENS.
[get-up] {n.} (stress on "get") Fancy dress or costume. * /Some
get-up you're wearing!/
[get-up-and-go] also [get-up-and-get] {n. phr.}, {informal}
Energetic enthusiasm; ambitious determination; pep; drive; push. *
/Joe has a lot of get-up-and-go and is working his way through
school./
[get up on the wrong side of the bed] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
awake with a bad temper. * /Henry got up on the wrong side of the bed
and wouldn't eat breakfast./ * /The man went to bed very late and got
up on the wrong side of the bed./
[get up the nerve] {v. phr.} To build up your courage until you are
brave enough; become brave enough. * /Jack got up the nerve to ask
Ruth to dance with him./ * /The hungry little boy got up nerve to ask
for another piece of cake./
[get used to] See: USED TO.
[get warmed up] See: WARM UP.
[get what's coming to one] or {slang} [get one's] {v. phr.} To
receive the good or bad that you deserve; get what is due to you; get
your share. * /At the end of the movie the villain got what was coming
to him and was put in jail./ * /John didn't think he was getting what
was coming to him, so he quit the job./ * /Mother told Mary that she'd
get hers if she kept on being naughty./ Compare: CATCH IT, HAVE IT
COMING, SERVE RIGHT.
[get wind of] {v. phr.} To get news of; hear rumors about; find out
about. * /The police got wind of the plans to rob the bank./ * /The
captain didn't want the sailors to get wind of where the ship was
going./
[get wise] {v. phr.}, {slang} To learn about something kept secret
from you; become alert. * /One girl pretended to be sick on gym days
when she had athletics, until the teacher got wise and made her go
anyway./ - Often used with "to". * /The boys got wise to Jack's
fondness for bubble gum./ * /If you don't get wise to yourself and
start studying, you will fail the course./ Compare: CATCH ON, SEE
THROUGH. Contrast: IN THE DARK.
[get with it] {v. phr.}, {slang} To pay attention; be alive or
alert; get busy. * /The students get with it just before
examinations./ * /The coach told the team to get with it./ Compare: ON
THE BALL.
[ghost] See: GIVE UP THE GHOST.
[ghost of a] Least trace of; slightest resemblance to; smallest bit
even of; a very little. Usually used with "chance" or "idea" in
negative sentences, or with "smile". * /There wasn't a ghost of a
chance that Jack would win./ * /We didn't have the ghost of an idea
where to look for John./ * /The teacher scolded Harold for drawing a
funny picture on the chalkboard, but she had a ghost of a smile./
Compare: FAT CHANCE.
[ghost-writer] {n.} A writer whose identity remains a secret and
who writes for another who receives all the credit. * /It is rumored
that John Smith's best-selling novel was written by a ghost-writer./
[gift of gab] or [gift of the gab] {n. phr.}, {informal} Skill in
talking; ability to make interesting talk that makes people believe
you. * /Many men get elected because of their gift of gab./ * /Mr.
Taylor's gift of gab helped him get a good job./
[gild the lily] also [paint the lily] {v. phr.} To add
unnecessarily to something already beautiful or good enough. * /To
talk about a beautiful sunset is to gild the lily./ * /For the
beautiful girl to use makeup would be to gild the lily./ * /Frank's
father is a millionaire, but Frank gilds the lily by saying he is a
billionaire./
[gill] See: FED TO THE GILLS at FED UP, GREEN AROUND THE GILLS or
PALE AROUND THE GILLS.
[gilt-edged] {adj.} Of the highest quality. * /Government saving
bonds are considered by many to be a gilt-edged investment./
[gin mill] {n.}, {slang} A bar where liquor is sold. * /Rush Street
in Chicago is full of gin mills./ Syn.: SPEAKEASY.
[G.I.] or ["government issue"] {n.} An American soldier. * /After
the war many GI's were able to get a free education./
[gird one's loins] {v. phr.}, {literary} To prepare for action; get
ready for a struggle or hard work. * /David girded up his loins and
went out to meet the giant Goliath./ * /Seniors must gird their loins
for the battles of life./
[girl Friday] {n.} A very dependable and helpful female office
worker; especially a secretary. * /Miss Johnson is the manager's girl
Friday./ * /There was an advertisement in the newspaper for a girl
Friday./
[girl friend] {n.}, {informal} 1. A female friend or companion. *
/Jane is spending the night at her girlfriend's house./ 2. A boy's
steady girl; the girl or woman partner in a love affair; girl;
sweetheart. * /John is taking his girl friend to the dance./ Contrast:
BOYFRIEND.
[give] See: SILENCE GIVES CONSENT.
[give a buzz] See: GIVE A RING.
[give a cold shoulder] See: COLD SHOULDER.
[give a hand] See: LEND A HAND.
[give a hang] or [care a hang] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have any
interest or liking; care. - Used also with other words in the place of
"hang", such as "damn", "rap", "straw"; usually used in the negative.
* /You can quit helping me if you want to. I don't give a hang./ *
/Some people don't care a rap about sports./ * /Bruce never goes to
the dances; he does not care a straw about dancing./
[give a hard time] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To give trouble by what
you do or say; complain. * /Jane gave her mother a hard time on the
bus by fighting with her sister and screaming./ * /Don't give me a
hard time, George. I'm doing my best on this job./ Compare: GIVE FITS.
2. To get in the way by teasing or playing; kid. * /Don't give me a
hard time, boys. I'm trying to study./ Compare: ACT UP, IN ONE'S HAIR.
[give-and-take] {n. phr.} 1. A sharing; giving and receiving back
and forth between people; a giving up by people on different sides of
part of what each one wants so that they can agree. * /Jimmy is too
selfish. He has no notion of give-and-take with the other children but
wants everything for himself./ * /There has to be give-and-take
between two countries before they can be friends./ Compare: LIVE AND
LET LIVE. 2. Friendly talking or argument back and forth. Friendly
sharing of ideas which may not agree; also: an exchange of teasing
remarks. * /After the meeting there was a lot of give-and-take about
Compare: LINE UP(4b).
[garbage down] {v. phr.}, {slang} To eat eagerly and at great speed
without much regard for manners or social convention. * /The children
garbaged down their food./
[garden apartment] {n.} An apartment with a garden near it. * /The
couple live in a garden apartment./
[garment] See: FOUNDATION GARMENT.
[gas] See: STEP ON IT or STEP ON THE GAS.
[gasket] See: BLOW A FUSE or BLOW A GASKET.
[gas up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To fill the gasoline tank of. * /The
mechanics gassed up the planes for their long trip./ 2. To fill the
tank with gasoline. * /The big truck stopped at the filling station
and gassed up./
[gate] See: GET THE BOUNCE or GET THE GATE, GIVE THE BOUNCE or GIVE
THE GATE.
[gate crasher] See: CRASH THE GATE.
[gather] See: ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS.
[gather in] {v.}, {informal} To catch. * /The end gathered in the
pass and went over for a touchdown./
[gauntlet] See: RUN THE GAUNTLET, THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET.
[gay nineties] {n.} The years between 1890 and 1900; remembered as
a happy exciting time. * /Ladies wore large hats in the gay nineties./
* /Picnics were popular in the gay nineties./
[gaze] See: CRYSTAL GAZING.
[gear] See: HIGH GEAR, SLIP A COG or SLIP A GEAR, THROW OUT OF
GEAR.
[geese] See: FOX AND GEESE.
[gee whiz] {interj.}, {informal} Used as an exclamation to show
surprise or other strong feeling. Rare in written English. * /Gee
whiz! I am late again./
[general] See: IN GENERAL.
[generation gap] {n.}, {informal}, {hackneyed phrase} The
difference in social values, philosophies, and manners between
children and their parents, teachers and relatives which causes a lack
of understanding between them and frequently leads to violent
confrontations. * /My daughter is twenty and I am forty, but we have
no generation gap in our family./
[generous to a fault] {adj. phr.} Excessively generous. * /Generous
to a fault, my Aunt Elizabeth gave away all her rare books to her old
college./
[George] See: LET GEORGE DO IT.
[get] See: GIVE AS GOOD AS ONE GETS, EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM or
EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM, GO-GETTER, TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF.
[get about] See: GET AROUND(1b).
[get a black eye] {v. phr.} 1. To receive a dark ring around the
eye after being hit by someone's fist or an object. * /In the
fistfight Tom got a black eye from Pete./ * /Sue got a black eye when
she ran into a tree./ 2. To have one's character denigrated. * /Our
firm received a black eye because of all the consumer complaints that
were lodged against our product./
[get a break] {v. phr.} To receive a stroke of luck. * /Bill got a
break when he won the lottery./
[get across] {v.} 1. To explain clearly, make (something) clear; to
make clear the meaning of. * /Mr. Brown is a good coach because he can
get across the plays./ Syn.: PUT ACROSS. 2. To become clear. * /The
teacher tried to explain the problem, but the explanation did not get
across to the class./
[get after] {v.}, {informal} 1. To try or try again to make someone
do what he is supposed to do. * /Ann's mother gets after her to hang
up her clothes./ 2. To scold or make an attack on. * /Bob's mother got
after him for tracking mud into the house./ * /The police are getting
after the crooks in the city./
[get ahead] {v.} 1. {informal} To become successful. * /Mr. Brown
was a good lawyer and soon began to get ahead./ * /The person with a
good education finds it easier to get ahead./ 2. To be able to save
money; get out of debt. * /In a few more years he will be able to get
ahead./ * /After Father pays all the doctor bills, maybe we can get a
little money ahead and buy a car./
[get a load of] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take a good look at; see
(something unusual or interesting.) - Often used to show surprise or
admiration. * /Get a load of that pretty girl!/ * /Get a load of
Dick's new car!/ Compare: LOOK OVER. 2. To listen to carefully or with
interest, especially exciting news. - Often used as a command: /Get a
load of this: Alice got married yesterday!/
[get along] also [get on] {v.} 1. To go or move away; move on. *
/The policeman told the boys on the street corner to get along./ 2. To
go forward; make progress; advance, * /John is getting along well in
school. He is learning more every day./ Syn.: GET AHEAD. 3. To
advance; become old or late. * /It is getting along towards sundown./
* /Grandmother is 68 and getting along./ 4. To get or make what you
need; manage. * /It isn't easy to get along in the jungle./ * /We can
get along on $100 a week./ Compare: DO WITHOUT(2), GET BY, MAKE DO. 5.
To live or work together in a friendly way; agree, cooperate; not
fight or argue. * /We don't get along with the Jones family./ * /Jim
and Jane get along fine together./ * /Don't be hard to get along
with./
[get a fix] or [give a fix] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {drug culture} To
provide (someone) with an injection of narcotics. * /The neighborhood
pusher gave Joe a fix./ Contrast: GET A FIX ON.
[get a fix on] {v. phr.}, {informal} Receive a reading of a distant
object by electronic means, as by radar or sonar. * /Can you get a fix
on the submarine?/ Contrast: GET A FIX.
[get a grip on] {v. phr.} To take firm control of something. * /If
Tim wants to keep his job, he had better get a grip on himself and
start working harder./ Contrast: LOSE ONE'S GRIP.
[get a head start on] {v. phr.} To receive preliminary help or
instruction in a particular subject so that the recipient is in a
favorable position compared to his or her peers. * /At our school,
children get a head start on their reading ability thanks to a special
program./
[get a kick out of] {v. phr.} To be greatly thrilled; derive
pleasure from. * /Tom and Many get a kick out of playing four hands on
the piano./
[get a line on] {v. phr.} To receive special, sometimes even
confidential information about something. * /Before Bill accepted his
new position, he got a line on how the business was being run./
[get a move on] {informal} or {slang} [get a wiggle on] {v. phr.}
To hurry up; get going. - Often used as a command. * /Get a move on,
or you will be late./
[get a raise] {v. phr.} To receive an increment in salary. *
/Because of his good work, Ted got a raise after May 1./
[get a rise out of] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To have some fun with (a
person) by making (him) angry; tease. * /The boys get a rise out of
Joe by teasing him about his girl friend./ 2. {vulgar}, {avoidable} To
be sexually aroused (said of males) * /Jim always gets a rise out of
watching adult movies./
[get (all) dolled up] See: DOLL UP.
[get along] or [on in years] {v. phr.} To age; grow old. * /My
father is getting along in years; he will be ninety on his next
birthday./
[get an earful] {v. phr.}, {informal} To hear more (of usually
unwelcome news) than one expects or wishes to hear. * /I asked how Tim
and his wife were getting along, and I certainly got an earful./
Contrast: SAY A MOUTHFUL.
[get around] {v.} 1a. To go to different places; move about. *
/Mary's father really gets around; Monday he was in Washington;
Wednesday he was in Chicago; and today he is in New York./ * /Fred
broke his leg, but he is able to get about on crutches./ 1b. or [get
about] To become widely known especially by being talked about. * /Bad
news gets around quickly./ 2a. {informal} To get by a trick or
flattery what you want from (someone). * /Mary knows how to get around
her father./ 2b. {informal} To find a way of not obeying or doing;
escape from. * /Some people try to get around the tax laws./ * /John
did not weigh enough to join the Navy, but he got around that; he
drank a lot of water before his physical examination./
[get around to] {v.} To do (something) after putting it off; find
time for. * /Mr. Lee hopes to get around to washing his car next
Saturday./
[get at] {v.} 1. To reach an understanding of; find out the
meaning. * /This book is very hard to get at./ 2. To do harm to. *
/The cat is on the chair trying to get at the canary./ Compare: GET
BACK AT. 3. To have a chance to do; attend to. * /I hope I have time
to get at my homework tonight./ Compare: GET TO(2). 4. To mean; aim
at; hint at. * /What was Betty getting at when she said she knew our
secret?/ * /What the teacher was getting at in this lesson was that it
is important to speak correctly./ Syn.: DRIVE AT. Compare: GET ACROSS.
[getaway car] {n. phr.} A vehicle parked near the scene of a crime
in which the criminals escape. * /The police intercepted the getaway
car at a major crossroads./
[get away] {v.} 1. To get loose or get free; become free from being
held or controlled; succeed in leaving; escape. * /As Jim was trying
the bat, it got away from him and hit Tom./ * /Someone left the door
open, and the puppy got away./ * /Mary tried to catch a butterfly, but
it got away from her./ * /The bank robbers used a stolen car to get
away./ * /If Mr. Graham can get away from his store this afternoon, he
will take Johnny fishing./ 2. To begin; start. * /We got away early in
the morning on the first day of our vacation./ * /The race got away to
a fast start./ Compare: GET OFF(3), START IN, START OUT.
[get away with] {v.}, {informal} To do (something bad or wrong)
without being caught or punished. * /Some students get away without
doing their homework./ See: GET BY(3).
[get away with murder] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something very
bad without being caught or punished. * /John is scolded if he is late
with his homework, but Robert gets away with murder./ * /Mrs. Smith
lets her children get away with murder./
[get a wiggle on] See: GET A MOVE ON.
[get a word in] or [get a word in edgewise] also [get a word in
edgeways] {v. phr.} To find a chance to say something when others are
talking. * /The little boy listened to the older students and finally
got in a word./ * /Mary talked so much that Jack couldn't get a word
in edgewise./
[get back at] {v.}, {informal} To do something bad to (someone who
has done something bad to you) hurt in return. * /John played a joke
on Henry, and next day Henry got back at him./ * /The elephant waited
many years to get back at the man who fed him red pepper./ Syn.: PAY
BACK, SETTLE A SCORE, TIT FOR TAT. Compare: GET AT(2), GET EVEN.
[get back on one's feet] {v. phr.} To once again become financially
solvent; regain one's former status and income, or health. * /Max got
back on his feet soon after his open heart surgery. Tom's business was
ruined due to the inflation, but he got back on his feet again./
[get behind] {v.} 1. To go too slowly: be late; do something too
slowly. * /The post office got behind in delivering Christmas mail./
Syn.: FALL BEHIND. Contrast: KEEP UP. 2. {informal} To support; help.
* /A club is much better if members get behind their leaders. * /We
got behind Mary to be class president./ Compare: BACK OF(3). 3.
{informal} To explain; find out the reason for. * /The police are
questioning many people to try and get behind the bank robbery./ Syn.:
GET TO THE BOTTOM OF.
[get busy] {v. phr.} To accelerate the pace in one's activities. *
/We've got to get busy if we want to make the deadline./
[get by] {v.}, {informal} 1. To be able to go past; pass. * /The
cars moved to the curb so that the fire engine could get by./ 2. To
satisfy the need or demand. * /Mary can get by with her old coat this
winter./ * /The janitor does just enough work to get by./ Syn.: GET
ALONG(4). 3. Not to be caught and scolded or punished. * /The soldier
thought he could get by with his dirty rifle./ * /The boy got by
without answering the teacher's question because a visitor came in./
Compare: GET AWAY WITH.
[get carried away with] See: CARRY AWAY.
[get couthed up] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get oneself dressed up
neatly and look elegant and presentable. * /What are you getting all
couthed up for?/ (This derives from "uncouth" ("outlandish,
ill-mannered") by leaving off the prefix "un-".)
[get cracking] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To hurry up, to start
moving fast. (Used mostly as an imperative). * /Come on, you guys,
let's get cracking!/ (Let's hurry up!) Compare: GET GOING 2.
[get credit for] {v. phr.} To be given points of merit,
recognition, or praise for labor or intellectual contribution. * /Our
firm got a lot of credit for developing parts of the space shuttle./
Contrast: GIVE CREDIT FOR.
[get one down] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make (someone) unhappy;
cause low spirits; cause discouragement. * /Low grades are getting
Helen down./ * /Three straight losses got the team down./ 2. To
swallow; digest. * /The medicine was so bitter I couldn't get it
down./ 3. To depress a person's spirit. * /Working at such an awful
job got Mike down./
[get down cold] {v. phr.} To memorize perfectly. * /Terry got the
text of his speech down cold./
[get down off your high horse] See: OFF ONE'S HIGH HORSE.
[get down to] {v.}, {informal} To get started on, being on. * /Joe
wasted a lot of time before he got down to work./ * /Let's get down to
work./ Compare: GET AT(3), GET GOING, GET TO.
[get down to brass tacks] also [get down to cases] {v. phr.},
{informal} To begin the most important work or business; get started
on the most important things to talk about or know. * /The men talked
about little things and then got down to brass tacks./ * /A busy
doctor wants his patients to get down to brass tacks./
[get down to business] or [work] {v. phr.} To start being serious;
begin to face a problem to be solved, or a task to be accomplished. *
/Gentlemen, I'm afraid the party is over and we must get down to
business./
[get down to work] See: GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.
[get even] {v.}, {informal} 1. To owe nothing. * /Mr. Johnson has a
lot of debts, but in a few years he will get even./ 2. To do something
bad to pay someone back for something bad; get revenge; hurt back. *
/Jack is waiting to get even with Bill for tearing up his notebook./ *
/Last April First Mr. Harris got fooled by Joe, and this year he will
get even./ Compare: GET BACK AT.
[get going] {v.}, {informal} 1. To excite; stir up and make angry.
* /The boys' teasing gets John going./ * /Talking about her freckles
gets Mary going./ 2. or {chiefly British} [get cracking] To begin to
move; get started. * /The teacher told Walter to get going on his
history lesson./ * /The foreman told the workmen to get cracking./ *
/Let's get going. It's almost supper time./ Compare: GET DOWN TO, STEP
LIVELY.
[get gray hair] or [get gray] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become old
or gray from worrying; become very anxious or worried. - Often used
with "over". * /"If John doesn't join the team, I won't get gray hair
over it," the coach said./ * /Naughty children are why mothers get
gray./ Compare: GIVE GRAY HAIR.
[get his or hers] {v. phr.} To receive one's proper reward or
punishment. * /Tim will get his when his wife finds out that he's been
seeing other women./
[get hitched] {v. phr.} To get married. * /After a long period of
dating, Fred and Mary finally got hitched./
[get hold of] {v.} 1. To get possession of. * /Little children
sometimes get hold of sharp knives and cut themselves./ 2. To find a
person so you can speak with him. * /Mr. Thompson spent several hours
trying to get hold of his lawyer./
[get in] {v. phr.} 1. To be admitted. * /Andy wants to go to
medical school but his grades aren't good enough for him to get in./
2. To arrive. * /What time does the plane from New York get in?/ 3. To
enter. * /"Get in the car, and let's go," Tom said in a hurry./ 4. To
put in stock; receive. * /The store just got in a new shipment of
shoes from China./
[get in on] {v. phr.} To be permitted to participate; become privy
to; be included. * /This is your chance to get in on a wonderful deal
with the new company if you're willing to make an investment./
[get in on the ground floor] {v. phr.} To be one of the first
members or employees to participate in the growth of a firm,
educational institution, etc. * /Elliott got in on the ground floor
and made a fortune at the company./ * /Mr. Smith who joined the new
college as an instructor, got in on the ground floor, and wound up as
its president after twenty years./
[get in on the] or [one's act] {v. phr.} To do something because
others are engaged in the same act; join others. * /John's business is
succeeding so well that both of his brothers want to get in on the
act./
[get in one's hair] See: IN ONE'S HAIR.
[get in one's way] See: IN ONE'S WAY.
[get into] See: BE INTO SOMETHING.
[get into line] {v. phr.} To cooperate; conform. * /The maverick
members of the party were advised to get into line unless they wanted
to be expelled./ Contrast: OUT OF LINE.
[get in touch with] See: IN TOUCH.
[get involved with] See: BE INVOLVED WITH.
[get in with] {v. phr.} To join up with; begin to associate with;
be accepted by. * /He got in with the wrong gang of boys and wound up
in jail./ * /She got in with her father's firm and made a successful
career of it./
[get in wrong] {v. phr.} To incur the anger or dislike of someone;
come into disfavor. * /Although he means well, Fred is always getting
in wrong with someone at the office./
[get it] {v.} 1. See: CATCH IT. 2. To understand; comprehend;
grasp. * /"I can't get it," John said. "Why do you spend so much on
clothes."/
[get it all together] {v. phr.} 1. To be in full possession and
control of one's mental faculties; have a clear purpose well pursued.
* /You've sure got it all together, haven't you?/ 2. Retaining one's
self-composure under pressure. * /A few minutes after the burglars
left he got it all together and called the police./ 3. To be well
built, stacked (said of girls and women.) * /Sue's sure got it all
together, hasn't she?/
[get it in the neck] See: CATCH IT IN THE NECK.
[get it] or [something in] or [into one's head] {v. phr.} To become
possessed of an idea; develop a fixed idea. * /Jack got it into his
head to become a marine and nothing we could say would make him change
his mind./
[get lost] {v. phr.}, {slang} Go away! - Used as a command. * /Get
lost! I want to study./ * /John told Bert to get lost./ Compare: DROP
DEAD.
[get mixed up] See: MIXED UP.
[get next to] See: BE CLOSE TO.
[get off] {v.} 1. To come down from or out of. * /The ladder fell,
and Tom couldn't get off the roof./ * /The bus stopped, the door
opened, and Father got off./ 2. To take off. * /Joe's mother told him
to get his wet clothes off./ 3. To get away; leave. * /Mr. Johnson
goes fishing whenever he can get off from work./ * /William got off
early in the morning./ 4. To go free. * /Mr. Andrews got off with a $5
fine when he was caught passing a stop sign./ 5. To make (something)
go. * /The halfback got off a lung pass./ * /John got a letter off to
his grandmother./ 6. To tell. * /The governor got off several jokes at
the beginning of his speech./
[get off cheap] {v. phr.} 1. To receive a lesser punishment than
one deserves. * /Ted could have been sentenced to fifteen years in
prison; he got off cheap by receiving a reduced sentence of five
years./ 2. To pay less than the normal price. * /If you had your car
repaired for only $75, you got off cheap./ Contrast: GET AWAY WITH.
[get off easy] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have only a little trouble;
escape something worse. * /The children who missed school to go to the
fair got off easy./ * /John got off easy because it was the first time
he had taken his father's car without permission./
[get off it] See: COME OFF IT.
[get off one's back] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {colloquial} To stop
criticizing or nagging someone. * /"Get off my back! Can't you see how
busy I am?"/
[get off one's case] or [back] or [tail] {v. phr.} To stop
bothering and constantly checking up on someone; quit hounding one. *
/"Get off my case!" he cried angrily. "You're worse than the cops."/
Contrast: ON ONE'S CASE.
[get off one's chest] See: OFF ONE'S CHEST.
[get off one's tail] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get busy, to start
working. * /OK you guys! Get off your tails and get cracking!/
[get off on the wrong foot] {v. phr.} To make a bad start; begin
with a mistake. * /Peggy got off on the wrong foot with her new
teacher; she chewed gum in class and the teacher didn't like it./
[get off the ground] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a successful
beginning; get a good start; go ahead; make progress. * /Our plans for
a party didn't get off the ground because no one could come./
[get off the hook] See: OFF THE HOOK.
[get off to a flying] or [running start] {v. phr.} To have a
promising or successful beginning. * /Ron got off to a flying start in
business school when he got nothing but A's./
[get on] or [get onto] {v.}, {informal} 1. To speak to (someone)
roughly about something he did wrong; blame; scold. * /Mrs. Thompson
got on the girls for not keeping their rooms clean./ * /The fans got
on the new shortstop after he made several errors./ Syn.: JUMP ON. 2.
See: GET ALONG. 3. To grow older. * /Work seems harder these days; I'm
getting on, you know./
[get one's] See: GET WHAT'S COMING TO ONE.
[get one's back up] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become or make angry
or stubborn. * /Fred got his back up when I said he was wrong./ * /Our
criticisms of his actions just got his hack up./
[get one's brains fried] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {also used
colloquially} 1. To sit in the sun and sunbathe for an excessive
length of time. * /Newcomers to Hawaii should be warned not to sit in
the sun too long - they'll get their brains fried./ 2. To get high on
drugs. * /He can't make a coherent sentence anymore - he's got his
brains fried./
[get one's dander up] or [get one's Irish up] {v. phr.} To become
or make angry. * /The boy got his dander up because he couldn't go to
the store./ * /The children get the teacher's dander up when they make
a lot of noise./ Compare: BLOW A FUSE.
[get one's ducks in a row] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get everything
ready. * /The scoutmaster told the boys to get their ducks in a row
before they went to camp./ * /Mr. Brown got his ducks in a row for his
trip./ Compare: LINE UP.
[get one's feet on the ground] See: FEET ON THE GROUND.
[get one's feet wet] {v. phr.}, {informal} To begin; do something
for the first time. * /The party was at Bill's house and when Ruth and
I got there the party had already started. "Jump right in and don't be
afraid to get your feet wet," said Bill./ * /"It's not hard to dance
once you get your feet wet," said the teacher./
[get one's fingers burned] See: BURN ONE'S FINGERS.
[get one's foot in the door] See: FOOT IN THE DOOR.
[get one's goat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a person disgusted
or angry. * /The boy's laziness all summer got his father's goat./ *
/The slow service at the cafe got Mr. Robinson's goat./
[get one's hands on] See: LAY ONE'S HANDS ON.
[get one's number] or [have one's number] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
find out or know what kind of person somebody is. * /The boys soon had
the new student's number./ * /The girls got their new roommate's
number the first week of school./
[get one's rear in gear] {v. phr.}, {slang} To hurry up, to get
going. * /I'm gonna have to get my rear in gear./
[get one's second wind] See: SECOND WIND.
[get one's teeth into] or [sink one's teeth into] {v. phr.},
{informal} To have something real or solid to think about; go to work
on seriously; struggle with. * /After dinner, John got his teeth into
the algebra lesson./ * /Frank chose a subject for his report that he
could sink his teeth into./
[get one's tongue] See: CAT GET ONE'S TONGUE.
[get on in years] See: ALONG IN YEARS.
[get on one's good side] {v. phr.} To gain the favor of someone;
flatter or please another. * /A clever lobbyist knows how to get on
the good side of both the House of Representatives and the Senate./
[get on one's nerves] {v. phr.} To make you nervous. * /John's
noisy eating habits get on your nerves./ * /Children get on their
parents' nerves by asking so many questions./
[get on the ball] See: ON THE BALL.
[get on the bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.
[get on the good side of] See: ON THE GOOD SIDE OF.
[get on the stick] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To get moving; to
stop being idle and to start working vigorously. * /All right, man,
let's get on the stick!/ Compare: ON THE BALL, GET OFF ONE'S TAIL.
[get on to one] {v. phr.} To figure someone out; understand what
someone else is up to. * /The FBI is on to Jim's secret trading with
the enemy./
[get one wrong] {v. phr.} To misinterpret; misunderstand another. *
/Don't get me wrong; I didn 't mean to criticize you./
[get] or [have one's say] See: DAY IN COURT.
[get out] {v. phr.} 1. Leave or depart. * /"Get out of here!" the
teacher shouted angrily to the misbehaving student./ * /"Driver, I
want to get out by the opera."/ 2. To publish; produce. * /Our press
is getting out two new books on ecology./ 3. To escape; leak out. *
/We must not let the news about this secret invention get out./
[get out in the open] See: OUT IN THE OPEN.
[get out of] {v. phr.} 1. To be excused from; avoid. * /He got out
of jury duty because of his illness./ 2. To gain from; extract from. *
/Tom complained that he didn't get anything out of the course on
grammar./
[get out of the way] See: OUT OF THE WAY.
[get out of hand] See: OUT OF HAND, OUT OF CONTROL.
[get over] {v.} 1. To finish. * /Tom worked fast to get his lesson
over./ 2. To pass over. * /It was hard to get over the muddy road./ 3.
To get well from; recover from. * /The man returned to work after he
got over his illness./ 4. To accept or forget (a sorrow or suprise.) *
/It is hard to get over the death of a member of your family./ * /We
could not get over the speed of Mary's recovery from pneumonia./
[get rattled] {v. phr.} To become confused, overexcited, or
nervous. * /The thief got so rattled when he saw the police following
him that he drove his car into a ditch./
[get rid of] See: RID OF.
[get set] {v. phr.} To get ready to start. * /The runners got set./
* /The seniors are getting set for the commencement./
[get short shrift] See: SHORT SHRIFT.
[get something out of one's system] {v. phr.} 1. To eliminate some
food item or drug from one's body. * /John will feel much better once
he gets the addictive sleeping pills out of his system./ 2. To free
oneself of yearning for something in order to liberate oneself from an
unwanted preoccupation. * /Ted bought a new cabin cruiser that he'd
been wanting for a long time, and he says he is glad that he's finally
got it out of his system./
[get something over with] See: OVER WITH(1).
get something straight {v. phr.} To clearly comprehend an issue. *
/"Let me get this straight," Burt said. "You want $85,000 for this
miserable shack?"/
[get stoned] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become very drunk or high on
some drug. * /Poor Fred was so stoned that Tom had to carry him up the
stairs./ Compare: THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND.
[get straight] See: GO STRAIGHT, GO LEGIT.
[get stuck] {v. phr.} 1. To be victimized; be cheated. * /The
Smiths sure got stuck when they bought that secondhand car; it broke
down just two days after they got it./ 2. To become entrapped or
embroiled in a physical, emotional, or social obstacle so as to be
unable to free oneself. * /Last winter our car got stuck in the snow
and we had to walk home./ * /Poor Jeff is stuck in a terrible job./ *
/Tom and Jane are stuck in a bad marriage./
[get (all) the breaks] {v. phr.} To be fortunate; have luck. *
/That fellow gets all the breaks! He's been working here only six
months, and he's already been promoted to vice president!/
[get the air] See: GET THE BOUNCE(1).
[get the ax] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be fired from a job. * /Poor
Joe got the ax at the office yesterday./ 2. To be dismissed from
school for improper conduct, such as cheating. * /Joe got caught
cheating on his final exam and he got the ax./ 3. To have a quarrel
with one's sweetheart or steady ending in a termination of the
relationship. * /Joe got the ax from Betsie - they won't see each
other again./
[get the ball rolling] or [set the ball rolling] or [start the ball
rolling] {informal} To start an activity or action; make a beginning;
begin. * /George started the ball rolling at the party by telling a
new joke./ Compare: KEEP THE BALL ROLLING.
[get the better of] or [get the best of] {v. phr.} 1. To win over,
beat; defeat. * /Our team got the best of the visitors in the last
quarter./ * /George got the better of Robert in a game of checkers./ *
/When the opposing player fouled John, John let his anger get the
better of his good sense and hit the boy back./ * /Dave wanted to
study till midnight, but sleepiness got the best of him./ Compare: RUN
AWAY WITH(1). 2. or [have the best of] or [have the better of] To win
or be ahead in (something); gain most from (something.) * /Bill traded
an old bicycle tire for a horn; he got the best of that deal./ * /Our
team had the best of it today, but they may lose the game tomorrow./ *
/The champion had all the better of it in the last part of the fight./
Contrast: GET THE WORST OF.
[get the boot] or [the gate] or [the sack] See: GET THE AXE.
[get the bounce] or [get the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. or [get
the air] To lose one's sweetheart; not be kept for a friend or lover.
* /Joe is sad because he just got the gate from his girl./ * /Shirley
was afraid she might get the air from her boyfriend if she went out
with other boys while he was away./ 2. or [get the sack] also [get the
hook] To be fired; lose a job. * /Uncle Willie can't keep a job; he
got the sack today for sleeping on the job./ * /You're likely to get
the bounce if you are absent from work too much./ Contrast: GIVE THE
BOUNCE.
[get the brush-off] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be paid no attention;
not be listened to or thought important. * /My idea for a party got
the brush-off from the other children./ 2. To be treated in an unkind
or unfriendly way; be ignored. * /Frank and Jane had an argument, so
the next time he telephoned her, he got the brush-off./ Compare: COLD
SHOULDER, HIGH-HAT. Contrast: BRUSH OFF.
[get the cart before the horse] See: CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
[get the eye] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be looked at, especially
with interest and liking. * /The pretty girl got the eye as she walked
past the boys on the street corner./ 2. To be looked at or stared at,
especially in a cold, unfriendly way. * /When Mary asked if she could
take home the fur coat and pay later, she got the eye from the clerk./
Contrast: GIVE THE EYE.
[get the feel of] {v. phr.} To become used to or learn about,
especially by feeling or handling; get used to the experience or
feeling of; get skill in. * /John had never driven a big car, and it
took a while for him to get the feel of it./ * /You'll get the feel of
the job after you've been there a few weeks./
[get the go-ahead] or [the green light] {v. phr.} To receive the
permission or signal to start or to proceed. * /We had to wait until
we got the go-ahead on our research project./
[get the goods on] or [have the goods on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To
find out true and, often, bad information about; discover what is
wrong with; be able to prove the guilt of. * /Tell the truth, Johnny.
We know who your girl is because we've got the goods on you./ * /The
police had the goods on the burglar before he came to trial./ Compare:
HAVE SOMETHING ON.
[get the hook] See: GET THE BOUNCE(2).
[get the inside track] See: INSIDE TRACK.
[get the jitters] {v. phr.} To become very nervous or excited. * /I
always get the jitters when I sit in an airplane that's about to take
off./
[get the jump on] or [have the jump on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get
ahead of; start before (others); have an advantage over. * /Don't let
the other boys get the jump on you at the beginning of the race./ *
/Our team got the jump on their rivals in the first minutes of play,
and held the lead to win./
[get the last laugh] See: HAVE THE LAST LAUGH.
[get the lead out of one's pants] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get busy;
work faster. * /The captain told the sailors to get the lead out of
their pants./ * /The coach told the players to get the lead out of
their pants./
[get the lowdown on] {v. phr.} To receive the full inside
information on a person or thing. * /We need to get the lowdown on
Peter before we can decide whether or not to hire him./
[get the message] or [get the word] {v. phr.}, {slang} To
understand clearly what is meant. * /The principal talked to the
students about being on time, and most of them got the message./ *
/Mary hinted to her boyfriend that she wanted to break up, but he
didn't gel the message./ Compare: THE PICTURE.
[get the picture] See: THE PICTURE.
[get the runaround] See: RUN AROUND.
[get the sack] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be fired or dismissed from
work. * /John got the sack at the factory last week./ 2. To be told by
one's lover that the relationship is over. * /Joanna gave Sam the
sack./ See: GET THE AX and GET THE BOUNCE(2).
[get the show on the road]{v. phr.}, {informal} To start a program;
get work started. * /It was several years before the rocket scientists
got the show on the road./ Compare: GET THE BALL ROLLING.
[get the third degree] See: THIRD DEGREE.
[get the upper hand on] See: UPPER HAND.
[get the word] See: GET THE MESSAGE.
[get the works] See: THE WORKS.
[get the worst of] also [have the worst of] {v. phr.} To lose; be
defeated or beaten in; suffer most. * /Joe got the worst of the
argument with Molly./ - Often used in the phrase "the worst of it". *
/If you start a fight with Jim, you may get the worst of it./ * /Bill
had the worst of it in his race with Al./ * /Jack traded his knife for
a few marbles; he got the worst of it in that trade./ * /The driver of
the car got the worst of it in the accident./ Contrast: GET THE BETTER
OF(2).
[get through] {v. phr.} 1. To finish. * /Barry got through his
homework by late evening./ 2. To pass a course or an examination. * /I
got through every one of my courses except mathematics./
[get through one's head] {v. phr.} 1. To understand or believe. *
/Jack couldn't get it through his head that his father wouldn't let
him go to camp if his grades didn't improve./ * /At last Mary got it
through her head that she had failed to pass the test./ 2. To make
someone understand or believe. * /I'll get it through his head if it
takes all night./
[get through to] {v.} To be understood by; make (someone)
understand. * /The little boy could not get through to his
housemother./ * /Deaf people sometimes find it hard to get through to
strangers./ * /When the rich boy's father lost his money, it took a
long time for the idea to get through to him that he'd have to work
and support himself./
[get to] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To begin by chance; begin to. -
Used with a verbal noun or an infinitive. * /George meant to save his
dollar, but he got to thinking how good an ice cream cone would taste,
and he spent it./ * /On a rainy day, Sally got to looking around in
the attic and found some old pictures of Father./ * /I got to know
Mary at the party./ * /I was just getting to know John when he moved
away./ Compare: TAKE TO(2). 2. To have a chance to; be able to. * /The
Taylors wanted to go to the beach Saturday, but it rained and they
didn't get to./ * /Did you get to see the king?/ Compare: GET AT(3).
3. See: HAVE TO.
[get to first base] or [reach first base] {v. phr.} To make a good
start; really begin; succeed, * /Joe had a long paper to write for
history class, but when the teacher asked for it, Joe hadn't got to
first base yet./ * /Suppose Sam falls in love with Betty. Can he even
get to first base with her?/ * /George wants to go to college and
become a teacher, but I'll be surprised if he even reaches first
base./ * /If you don't dress neatly, you won't get to first base when
you look for a job./ Compare: FIRST BASE.
[get together] {v.} To come to an agreement; agree. * /Mother says
I should finish my arithmetic lesson, and Father says I should mow the
lawn. Why don't you two get together?/
[get-together] {n.} A party; a gathering. * /I hate to break up
this nice get-together but we must leave./ * /We manage to have a
get-together with our old friends once or twice a year./
[get to the bottom of] {v. phr.} To find out the real cause of. *
/The superintendent talked with several students to get to the bottom
of the trouble./ * /The doctor made several tests to get to the bottom
of the man's headaches./ Compare: GET TO THE HEART OF.
[get to the heart of] {v. phr.} To find the most important facts
about or the central meaning of; understand the most important thing
about. * /You can often get to the heart of people's unhappiness by
letting them talk./ * /"If you can find a topic sentence, often it
will help you get to the heart of the paragraph," said the teacher./
[get to the point] See: COME TO THE POINT.
[get two strikes against one] See: TWO STRIKES AGAINST.
[get underway] {v. phr.} To set out on a journey; start going. *
/We are delighted that our new Ph.D. program finally got underway./
[get under one's skin] {v. phr.} To bother; upset. * /The students
get under Mary's skin by talking about her freckles./ * /Children who
talk too much in class get under the teacher's skin./
[get up] {v.} 1. To get out of bed. * /John's mother told him that
it was time to get up./ 2. To stand up; get to your feet. * /A man
should get up when a woman comes into the room./ 3. To prepare; get
ready. * /Mary got up a picnic for her visitor./ * /The students got
up a special number of the newspaper to celebrate the school's 50th
birthday./ 4. To dress up. * /One of the girls got herself up as a
witch for the Halloween party./ 5. To go ahead. * /The wagon driver
shouted, "Get up!" to his horses./
[get up] or [rise with the chickens] {v. phr.} To rise very early
in the morning. * /All the farmers in this village get up with the
chickens./ Contrast: GO TO BED WITH THE CHICKENS.
[get-up] {n.} (stress on "get") Fancy dress or costume. * /Some
get-up you're wearing!/
[get-up-and-go] also [get-up-and-get] {n. phr.}, {informal}
Energetic enthusiasm; ambitious determination; pep; drive; push. *
/Joe has a lot of get-up-and-go and is working his way through
school./
[get up on the wrong side of the bed] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
awake with a bad temper. * /Henry got up on the wrong side of the bed
and wouldn't eat breakfast./ * /The man went to bed very late and got
up on the wrong side of the bed./
[get up the nerve] {v. phr.} To build up your courage until you are
brave enough; become brave enough. * /Jack got up the nerve to ask
Ruth to dance with him./ * /The hungry little boy got up nerve to ask
for another piece of cake./
[get used to] See: USED TO.
[get warmed up] See: WARM UP.
[get what's coming to one] or {slang} [get one's] {v. phr.} To
receive the good or bad that you deserve; get what is due to you; get
your share. * /At the end of the movie the villain got what was coming
to him and was put in jail./ * /John didn't think he was getting what
was coming to him, so he quit the job./ * /Mother told Mary that she'd
get hers if she kept on being naughty./ Compare: CATCH IT, HAVE IT
COMING, SERVE RIGHT.
[get wind of] {v. phr.} To get news of; hear rumors about; find out
about. * /The police got wind of the plans to rob the bank./ * /The
captain didn't want the sailors to get wind of where the ship was
going./
[get wise] {v. phr.}, {slang} To learn about something kept secret
from you; become alert. * /One girl pretended to be sick on gym days
when she had athletics, until the teacher got wise and made her go
anyway./ - Often used with "to". * /The boys got wise to Jack's
fondness for bubble gum./ * /If you don't get wise to yourself and
start studying, you will fail the course./ Compare: CATCH ON, SEE
THROUGH. Contrast: IN THE DARK.
[get with it] {v. phr.}, {slang} To pay attention; be alive or
alert; get busy. * /The students get with it just before
examinations./ * /The coach told the team to get with it./ Compare: ON
THE BALL.
[ghost] See: GIVE UP THE GHOST.
[ghost of a] Least trace of; slightest resemblance to; smallest bit
even of; a very little. Usually used with "chance" or "idea" in
negative sentences, or with "smile". * /There wasn't a ghost of a
chance that Jack would win./ * /We didn't have the ghost of an idea
where to look for John./ * /The teacher scolded Harold for drawing a
funny picture on the chalkboard, but she had a ghost of a smile./
Compare: FAT CHANCE.
[ghost-writer] {n.} A writer whose identity remains a secret and
who writes for another who receives all the credit. * /It is rumored
that John Smith's best-selling novel was written by a ghost-writer./
[gift of gab] or [gift of the gab] {n. phr.}, {informal} Skill in
talking; ability to make interesting talk that makes people believe
you. * /Many men get elected because of their gift of gab./ * /Mr.
Taylor's gift of gab helped him get a good job./
[gild the lily] also [paint the lily] {v. phr.} To add
unnecessarily to something already beautiful or good enough. * /To
talk about a beautiful sunset is to gild the lily./ * /For the
beautiful girl to use makeup would be to gild the lily./ * /Frank's
father is a millionaire, but Frank gilds the lily by saying he is a
billionaire./
[gill] See: FED TO THE GILLS at FED UP, GREEN AROUND THE GILLS or
PALE AROUND THE GILLS.
[gilt-edged] {adj.} Of the highest quality. * /Government saving
bonds are considered by many to be a gilt-edged investment./
[gin mill] {n.}, {slang} A bar where liquor is sold. * /Rush Street
in Chicago is full of gin mills./ Syn.: SPEAKEASY.
[G.I.] or ["government issue"] {n.} An American soldier. * /After
the war many GI's were able to get a free education./
[gird one's loins] {v. phr.}, {literary} To prepare for action; get
ready for a struggle or hard work. * /David girded up his loins and
went out to meet the giant Goliath./ * /Seniors must gird their loins
for the battles of life./
[girl Friday] {n.} A very dependable and helpful female office
worker; especially a secretary. * /Miss Johnson is the manager's girl
Friday./ * /There was an advertisement in the newspaper for a girl
Friday./
[girl friend] {n.}, {informal} 1. A female friend or companion. *
/Jane is spending the night at her girlfriend's house./ 2. A boy's
steady girl; the girl or woman partner in a love affair; girl;
sweetheart. * /John is taking his girl friend to the dance./ Contrast:
BOYFRIEND.
[give] See: SILENCE GIVES CONSENT.
[give a buzz] See: GIVE A RING.
[give a cold shoulder] See: COLD SHOULDER.
[give a hand] See: LEND A HAND.
[give a hang] or [care a hang] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have any
interest or liking; care. - Used also with other words in the place of
"hang", such as "damn", "rap", "straw"; usually used in the negative.
* /You can quit helping me if you want to. I don't give a hang./ *
/Some people don't care a rap about sports./ * /Bruce never goes to
the dances; he does not care a straw about dancing./
[give a hard time] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To give trouble by what
you do or say; complain. * /Jane gave her mother a hard time on the
bus by fighting with her sister and screaming./ * /Don't give me a
hard time, George. I'm doing my best on this job./ Compare: GIVE FITS.
2. To get in the way by teasing or playing; kid. * /Don't give me a
hard time, boys. I'm trying to study./ Compare: ACT UP, IN ONE'S HAIR.
[give-and-take] {n. phr.} 1. A sharing; giving and receiving back
and forth between people; a giving up by people on different sides of
part of what each one wants so that they can agree. * /Jimmy is too
selfish. He has no notion of give-and-take with the other children but
wants everything for himself./ * /There has to be give-and-take
between two countries before they can be friends./ Compare: LIVE AND
LET LIVE. 2. Friendly talking or argument back and forth. Friendly
sharing of ideas which may not agree; also: an exchange of teasing
remarks. * /After the meeting there was a lot of give-and-take about