Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - get

~ v past tense got, past participle got especially BrE gotten especially AmE present participle getting »RECEIVE/OBTAIN« 1 »RECEIVE« T not in passive to be given or receive something  (Sharon always seems to get loads of mail. | Why do I always get socks for Christmas? | get sth from/off sb)  (Jordan says he got the drugs off a friend. | get a shock/surprise/thrill etc)  (He'll get a real shock when he sees the bill.) 2 »OBTAIN« to obtain something  (Where did you get that painting? | There's no place in town you can get a good haircut. | get sb sth)  (He's just popped out to get me some stamps. | get sth for sb)  (Gerrard was sent to get help for his sister.)  (- see obtain) 3 »GET BY BUYING« to buy something  (That cat-basket? I got it on Harlow Market. | get sth for $20/-100/50p etc)  (You can't get a decent CD player for under $500. | get sth free/cheap etc)  (Dee gets all her clothes cheap from charity shops. | get sb sth)  (While you're out, could you get me a newspaper? | get sth for sb)  (She got a ticket for Bobby as well.) 4 »GET MONEY BY SELLING« to receive a particular amount of money for something when you sell it  (How much are you expecting to get for your house? | get -10/50p/$100 etc for)  (Ian got $500 for that old car of his.) 5 »GET AN ILLNESS« T not in passive to catch an illness, especially one that is not very serious  (It's fairly unusual for adults to get measles. | get sth off/from)  (He seems to have got a cold off one of the kids at playgroup.) 6 »JOB« to be given or offered a new job or position, especially because of your own efforts  (Why don't you get yourself a job instead of lazing around all day? | get promotion (=be offered a more important, better paid job than the one you are already doing))  (Some people have been here for years and have never got promotion.) 7 »EARN MONEY« T not in passive to be earning a particular amount of money  (How much do you think Stewart gets? | get -3,000/-5/$100,000 etc a day/hour/year etc)  (Tracey gets five dollars an hour canning fruit.) MOVE/GO/TRAVEL 8 »ARRIVE« to arrive somewhere  (What time will we get there? | get to/as far as/up to etc)  (Next day they got to the camp, tired and hungry.) 9 get the train/bus/ferry etc to travel somewhere on a train, bus etc  (I'm getting the train home tonight.) 10 »MOVE« I always +adv/prep) to move to or go somewhere + out of/over/into etc  (Get out of my house! | Somehow, water had gotten in through the lining.) 11 »MAKE STH MOVE« to make something move to a different place or position, especially with some difficulty  (get sth out/through/off etc)  (How on earth are they going to get that piano down the stairs?) HAVE/OWN 12 have got especially BrE to possess or own something  (What kind of car has she got? | Darren's got a Master's Degree in Linguistics.) 13 to have particular features or characteristics  (She's got an awful temper. | Mr Williams is about 80, and he's got a shiny bald head.) BECOME/MAKE STH BECOME 14 linking verb to change from one state, feeling etc to another; become  (get angry/cold/upset etc)  (When I tried to talk to him about it, he just got really angry. | This is getting silly. | get lost/trapped/caught etc (=to become lost, trapped etc))  (Just think of all those people getting killed out there. | Nick's getting married in September.) get hot/cold/warm etc  (It's getting quite chilly out there. | Eat your dinner before it gets cold.)  (- see become) 15 T not in passive to make someone or something do something  (get sb/sth to do sth)  (Get Chris to wash his jeans occasionally. | get sth doing sth)  (I wonder if Frankie could get this video working.) 16 get going/moving/cracking etc to make yourself do something or move somewhere more quickly  (What are we all waiting for? Let's get moving!) 17 get to see/know/understand etc to gradually begin to see, know, understand etc  (I'm sure the kids will soon get to like each other.) 18 get to do sth to be able to do something, especially when this is difficult or unusual  (Since the divorce, he hardly ever gets to see Jenny.) UNDERSTAND 19 T not in passive or progressive) informal to understand something  (get the message/hint (=to finally understand what someone has been trying to tell you, in an indirect way))  (I get the message - you just don't want me to come with you. | get what/how/who etc)  (She still doesn't get what the movie's about.) 20 get it spoken to understand something, especially after it has been explained to you several times  (Oh, the paper's supposed to go in this way up. I get it.) 21 not get it spoken to not understand something, especially a joke  (He just didn't get it.) »OTHER MEANINGS« 22 »BRING« to bring someone or something back from somewhere; fetch (1)  (Run upstairs and get a pillow. | get sb/sth from)  (She's just gone to get the kids from Mary-Ann's house. | go and get (sb) sb/sth)  (Go and get me a cloth, would you?) 23 »REACH A POINT« to reach a particular point or stage of something  (get to/as far as/up to etc)  (He's already got up to page 200. | When you get to the end of the test paper, read it through.) 24 »CLOTHES« get sth on/off etc to put a piece of clothing on or take it off  (You'd better get those wet things off.) 25 »COOK« T not in passive to prepare a meal  (Who's going to get the dinner tonight? | get sb dinner/lunch etc)  (He expects her to get him his dinner every night.) 26 you get spoken used to say that something happens or exists  (I didn't know you got tigers in Europe.) 27 get the door/phone etc spoken to answer the door, a telephone etc  (Can you get the door for me? I'm in the bath!) 28 you've got me there spoken used to say you do not know the answer to something  ("So how do you spell `rhythm' then?" "You've got me there.") 29 »RADIO/TELEVISION« T not in passive or progressive) to be able to receive a particular radio signal, television station etc  (Can you get satellite TV here?) 30 »PUNISH« T not in passive or progressive) spoken to do something to harm or hurt someone who has harmed or hurt you  (get sb for sth)  (I'm going to get you for that!) 31 »ATTACK« T not in passive or progressive) to attack or harm someone  (Good luck with the diving - and mind the sharks don't get you!) 32 get sth fixed/done/mended etc to spend time and effort fixing something, finishing a job etc  (It's about time we got the kitchen repainted.) 33 it (really) gets me spoken used to say that something really annoys you  (It really gets me the way he leaves wet towels on the bathroom floor.) 34 get you/him/her spoken humorous used to say that someone is trying to seem more important, clever etc than they really are  (Get you, talking about going on a luxury cruise!) get about BrE phr v 1 to be able to go or travel to different places  (She's eighty now, and doesn't get about much any more.) 2 if news or information gets about, it is told to a lot of people  (I don't mind you knowing, but I don't really want it to get about.) 3 informal if someone gets about, they have sexual relationships with a lot of different people get sth across phr v T not in passive to succeed in communicating ideas, information etc to someone else  (get sth across to sb)  (How can I get it across to you people how important this is?) get along phr v 1 if two or more people get along, they have a friendly relationship  (If you two are going to share a room, you'd better learn how to get along.)  (I've always found him a bit difficult to get along with.) 2 to progress in something you are doing  (How's your granddaughter getting along at university?) 3 spoken to continue with something that you were doing before  (I'd like to stay and chat, but I really must be getting along.) get around phr v 1 to be able to go or travel to different places 2 if news or information gets around or gets round, a lot of people come to hear about it  (It quickly got around that Joshua was back in town.) 3 T get around someone) to gently persuade someone to do what you want by being nice to them  (Freddie knows exactly how to get around his mother.) 4 T get around something) to find a way of dealing with a problem, especially by trying to avoid it  (Bill's rather stupidly promised her a week in Paris - I don't know how he's going to get around that one.) get around to phr v T not in passive to finally do something that you have been intending to do for some time  (I don't know when we'll get around to doing any more decorating.) get at sb/sth phr v 1 informal to criticize someone repeatedly in an annoying way  (She can't think why Moira's always getting at her.) 2 (not in passive) to seem to be saying something that other people do not completely understand  (What exactly are you getting at, Helen?) 3 to be able to reach something  (You have to use a ladder to get at the jars on the top shelves.) 4 to use threats to influence the decision of people who are involved in a court case  (At least eight members of the jury had been got at.) 5 to find something out, especially the truth about a situation  (get at the truth/facts/information etc)  (They're prepared to use any means possible to get at the truth.) get away phr v 1 to succeed in leaving a place, especially when this is not easy  (There's a meeting after work, but I should be able to get away by seven.) 2 to escape from someone who is chasing you or trying to catch you  (The three men got away in a stolen car.) + from  (Gillie managed to get away from the man and call the police.) 3 informal to take a holiday away from the place you normally live  (Will you manage to get away this summer?) 4 get away! BrE spoken used to say you are very surprised by something or do not believe it  ("He's been invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace." "Get away!") 5 the one that got away something good that you nearly had or that nearly happened, but did not get away from phr v T not in passive 1 to begin to talk about other things rather than the subject you are supposed to be discussing  (I think we're getting away from the main issue.) 2 there's no getting away from spoken used to say that a fact must be dealt with or considered  (There's no getting away from it - we just can't afford to move house at the moment.) 3 get away from it all an expression used especially in advertisements meaning to have a relaxing holiday  (get away from it all in sunny Barbados.) get away with phr v T not in passive a) to not be caught or punished for something you have done wrong  (I don't know how they manage to get away with paying such low wages. | get away with murder informal (=repeatedly do something wrong, and not get caught or punished))  (Just because he's been working here a long time, he thinks he can get away with murder.) b) spoken to be able to do something, even though it is not the best thing to do  (I think you could just about get away with wearing navy shoes with that dress.) get back phr v 1 to return to a place  (We'll probably get back at about nine.) 2 I + to to start doing something again or talking about something again  (Let's get back to the main point of the discussion.) 3 T get something back) to have something returned to you  (Did you get your books back?) 4 T get someone back) informal to do something to hurt or harm someone who has hurt or harmed you  (Don't worry. I'll get her back for this!) get back at sb phr v T not in passive to do something to hurt or harm someone who has hurt or harmed you  (He only asked Jean for a date to get back at his ex-girlfriend.) get back to sb phr v especially spoken used to say that you will try to talk to someone again later, especially on the telephone  (I'm a bit busy at the moment - can I get back to you?) get behind phr v I + with if you get behind with a job, payments, rent etc, you have not done or paid as much of it as you should have done by now  (Try not to get too far behind with your work.) get by phr v to have enough money to buy the things you need, but no more  (Her old age pension gives her barely enough to get by. | get by on -5/$20/$100 etc)  (With four kids to feed, Josie gets by on just $75 a week.) get down phr v 1 T not in passive get someone down) to gradually make someone feel unhappy and tired  (All this waiting and delay is really getting her down.) 2 T get something down) to write something, especially something that someone is saying  (a group of reporters trying to get down every word he said) 3 to succeed in swallowing something 4 BrE an expression used especially by children meaning to leave the table after a meal get down to sth phr v to finally start doing something that needs a lot of time or energy  (After Christmas I'm going to get down to some serious job-hunting. | get down to doing sth)  (Isn't it time you got down to marking those papers?) get in phr v 1 to succeed in entering a place  (They arrived at the stadium in good time, but they still couldn't get in.) 2 if a train, plane etc gets in at a particular time, that is the time it arrives  (What time does the bus get in?) 3 to be elected to a position of political power  (It's unlikely the Liberal Democrats will get in again.) 4 to arrive home  (I'll phone her as soon as I get in.) 5 T get something in) to gather together something such as crops and bring them to a sheltered place  (The whole village was involved with getting the harvest in.) 6 T get someone in) to ask someone to come to your home or workplace to do a job, especially to repair something  (We'll have to get the engineer in.) 7 T get something in) to send something to a particular place or give it to a particular person  (Please can you get your assignments in by Thursday. | We have to get an insurance claim in as quickly as possible.) 8 to succeed in getting a place at a university, college etc  (How many of your students got in this year?) get in on phr v T not in passive informal to become involved in something that other people are doing or planning  (get in on the act (=get involved in something exciting, interesting, important etc))  (Now the Republicans are hoping to get in on the act.) get in with sb phr v informal to become friendly with someone, especially someone who could be helpful to you in some way  (He spends all his time trying to get in with the boss.) get into 1 what's got into sb spoken used to express surprise that someone is behaving very differently from the way they usually behave  (I don't know what's got into Danny - he's suddenly started doing all the cooking and cleaning.) 2 get (sb) into a temper/state etc to become angry or make someone angry, become upset or make someone upset etc  (Don't get into a mood about it.) 3 get (sb) into trouble/difficulties etc to do something that causes trouble for yourself or for someone else  (That's another fine mess you've got me into.) 4 T not in passive to start doing something habitually  (get into the habit/way/routine etc of)  (He had gotten into the habit of walking home through the park.) 5 T not in passive informal to begin to be interested in an activity or subject  (Lots of my friends are getting into Green politics.) 6 cannot get into informal if you cannot get into clothes, they are too small for you get off phr v 1 to start a journey  (They're planning to get off by midday.) 2 T get something off) to send a letter, parcel etc by mail  (I'll have to get this letter off by tonight.) 3 if a criminal gets off, they get little or no official punishment for their crime  (Financial fraudsters often get off because the details of the case are too complex to be understood by juries.) 4 T get someone off something) to help someone avoid being punished for a crime or something they have done wrong  (I'll pay anything you ask if you manage to get her off.) 5 I get someone off) to succeed in making someone, especially a baby, go to sleep  (Guy's upstairs trying to get the baby off. | get sb off to sleep)  (Has she got the baby off to sleep yet?) 6 AmE informal to have an orgasm 7 to finish work and leave your workplace at the end of the day  (What time do you get off work?) + a  (Shelley gets off at five-thirty.) 8 Get off! spoken used to tell someone to stop touching you or to keep away from something 9 tell sb where to get off spoken to tell someone that they are asking you for too much or are behaving in a way you will not accept  ("She expects me to look after her kids all the time." "If I were you I'd tell her where to get off.") get off on sth phr v T not in passive informal to become excited by something, especially sexually excited get off to phr v T not in passive to start to do something in a particular way  (get off to a good/bad start)  (As far as school goes, Johnnie has got off to an extremely good start.) get off with phr v T not in passive informal to start a sexual relationship with someone  (She spent the whole evening trying to get off with Phil.) get on phr v 1 especially BrE if two or more people get on, they have a friendly relationship with each other  (How does Gina get on with her colleagues?) 2 »PROGRESS« to make progress in something you are doing; get along (2)  (He's new here, but he seems to be getting on fine.) 3 be getting on a) if time is getting on, it is get- ting late  (Tell Rea to hurry - it's getting on.) b) informal if someone is getting on, they are getting old  (We're both getting on now.) 4 »CONTINUE DOING STH« to continue with something you were doing before  (Get on with your work!) 5 »ABLE TO DO STH« to be able to do something, in spite of problems or difficulties  (I don't know how we'll manage to get on without you.) 6 get it on AmE to have sex  (Do you think those two have got it on yet?) 7 Get on with it! spoken used to tell someone to hurry  (Will you lot stop messing around and get on with it!) 8 let sb get on with it a) spoken used to say that you do not care what someone does, even though it might have bad results  (Well, if she wants to go ahead and ruin her career, let her get on with it.) b) to let someone do something without your help or advice  (Why can't my parents ever just let me get on with it?) 9 Get on/along with you! old-fashioned spoken used to say you do not believe what someone has said be getting on for phr v T not in passive be getting on for 90/10 o'clock/2,000 etc to be almost that age, time, number etc  (Mrs McIntyre must be getting on for 90 by now. | They paid getting on for $100,000 for it.) get onto phr v T not in passive 1 to speak or write to someone, especially someone you want to help you  (I'm afraid I can't help you - you'd better get onto the Foreign Office.) 2 to find out about someone who has been doing something wrong  (Why did the police fail to get onto this gang earlier?) 3 to be elected as a member of a committee, a political organization etc  (Very few women ever get onto industry's controlling bodies.) 4 to begin to talk about a subject after you have been discussing something else  (After a few minutes they got onto the subject of the election.) get out phr v 1 to escape from somewhere  (How on earth did the dog manage to get out?) + of  (No-one's ever gotten out of this jail.) 2 T get someone out) to help someone escape from or leave somewhere  (Asylum seekers have appealed to the President to help get them out.) 3 if information gets out, a lot of people know about it though it is meant to be secret  (We have to make absolutely certain that none of this gets out. | get out that)  (It's bound to get out that he's retiring soon.) 4 T get something out) to succeed in producing or publishing publish something  (They said they'd try and get the catalog out by the end of the month.) 5 T get something out) to succeed in saying something, especially when this is very difficult  (I wanted to tell him I loved him, but couldn't get the words out.) get out of phr v T not in passive 1 to avoid doing something you have promised to do or are supposed to do  (See if you can get out of that meeting tomorrow. | get out of doing sth)  (Danny's always trying to get out of taking the kids to school.) 2 (get someone out of) to help someone to avoid doing something they are supposed to do  (Wendy wants you to try and get her out of classes tomorrow. | get sb out of doing sth)  (OK, I'll see if I can get you out of having to testify.) 3 (get something out of someone) to force or persuade someone to tell you something or give you something 4 (get something out of something) to gain pleasure or enjoyment from something  (I don't know what people get out of listening to deafeningly loud music.) get over 1 a) T not in passive to get well again after an illness  (She's still trying to get over that bout of flu she had.) b) to begin to feel better after an upsetting emotional experience  (Some people never really get over the early death of a parent.) 2 T get something over) to succeed in communicating ideas, information etc to other people  (There's no point in having brilliant ideas unless you can get them over.) 3 T get something over) to do and finish something difficult that you have to do  (Angela says she'll be in touch when she gets her exams over. | get sth over with)  (I'll speak first if you like - I'd rather get it over with quickly.) 4 (get over something) to successfully deal with problems, difficulties etc  (Once we've got over the first few months, we should be making a reasonable profit.) 5 can't/couldn't get over spoken used to say that you are very surprised, shocked, or amused by something  (Carrie couldn't get over how thin and pale he looked. | I just can't/couldn't get over it)  (They suddenly fired all the company directors. I just can't get over it.) get round phr v BrE 1 if news or information gets round, it is told to a lot of people  (get round that)  (It wasn't long before it got round that Tracey was going out with James.) 2 T get round something) to find a way of dealing with a problem, especially by trying to avoid it  (There's no way your mother can stay here - we'll just have to get round it somehow.) 3 T get round someone) to gently persuade someone to do what you want by being nice to them  (He's determined he won't give in - see if you can get round him.) get round to phr v T not in passive BrE to finally do something that you have been intending to do for some time, but have not because you were too busy, too lazy etc  (I haven't even got around to unpacking from my holiday yet!) get through phr v 1 T not in passive to come to the end of a difficult or unpleasant experience or period of time  (It's going to be hard to get through the next couple of days.) 2 to pass a test, examination etc  (I'm afraid your daughter failed to get through her mid-term exams.) 3 T get someone/something through something) to make sure someone or something passes an examination, test etc  (You'll never get that old car through its smog test.) 4 T get something through) to succeed in having a plan, new law etc approved by an official group  (Once again we failed to get the Bill through Parliament.) 5 to succeed in reaching someone by telephone  (At last I managed to get through to one of the managers.) 6 T get through something) to use a lot of something or spend a lot of money  (He gets through at least $500 every weekend.) get through to phr v T get something through to someone) to succeed in making someone understand something, especially when this is difficult  (get it through to sb (that))  (You must try and get it through to them that this is no joke.) get to phr v informal to make you feel very annoyed or upset  (I know they're being unfair, but don't let them get to you.)  (- see reach1) get together phr v 1 if two or more people get together, they meet each other  (We must get together some time for a drink.)  (It's ages since I got together with the gang from school.) 2 if two people get together, they start a romantic or sexual relationship  (Those two should get together - they have a lot in common.) 3 get yourself together to begin to be in control of your life, your emotions etc  (She needs a bit of time to get herself together.) 4 get it together spoken a) to begin to be in control of your life, your emotions etc  (If this team doesn't get it together by next month, we'll all be fired.) b) if two people get it together, they begin to develop a romantic or sexual relationship with each other get up phr v 1 to wake up and get out of your bed after sleeping, especially in the morning  (What time did you get up this morning?) 2 T get someone up) to make someone wake up and get out of their bed, especially in the morning  (Get me up at seven, would you?) 3 to stand up  (No, please don't get up.) 4 if a wind or storm gets up, it starts and gets stronger 5 T get something up) to organize something  (She's getting a collection up for Sue's birthday.) 6 get sb up as BrE to dress someone as someone or something else  (He arrived at the party got up as Count Dracula.) 7 get it up informal to get an erection (1) 8 get up speed/steam to begin to move or travel faster get up to phr v to do something, especially something slightly bad  (Go upstairs and see what the kids are getting up to.)