Learn English Phrasal Verbs:Get
Get is the largest pack on the site because English uses it for movement, recovery, relationships, and finishing something difficult.
get across
communicate
I got across my ideas clearly in the meeting.
I communicated my ideas clearly in the meeting.
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get about
travel around
He gets about a lot for work.
He travels around a lot for work.
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get around
spread
News gets around quickly in a small town.
News spreads quickly in a small town.
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get around
bypass
She found a way to get around the new rule.
She found a way to bypass the new rule.
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get at
imply
What are you trying to get at with that comment?
What are you trying to imply with that comment?
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get at
reach
He couldn’t get at the book on the top shelf.
He couldn’t reach the book on the top shelf.
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get away from
take a break from
They got away from the city for the weekend.
They took a break from the city for the weekend.
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get away with
escape punishment for
He got away with copying the homework.
He escaped punishment for copying the homework.
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get back from
return
I just got back from a trip to Spain.
I just returned from a trip to Spain.
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get back at
take revenge on
She got back at him for the prank.
She took revenge on him for the prank.
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get back to
reply to
I’ll get back to you after I check the dates.
I’ll reply to you after I check the dates.
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get by
manage
It’s tight, but I get by on this salary.
It’s tight, but I manage on this salary.
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get someone down
make unhappy
Rainy days always get me down.
Rainy days always make me unhappy.
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get down to
start seriously
Let’s get down to work — the deadline is Friday.
Let’s start work seriously — the deadline is Friday.
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get in
enter
She got in through the back door.
She entered through the back door.
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get into
become interested in
I’ve recently got into running after work.
I’ve recently become interested in running after work.
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get off
leave a bus or train
We need to get off at the next stop.
We need to leave the bus at the next stop.
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get off to a good start
begin well
The team got off to a good start in the first week.
The team began well in the first week.
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get on
board
He got on the train just before it left.
He boarded the train just before it left.
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get on with
continue
I need to get on with this report tonight.
I need to continue this report tonight.
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get along with
have a good relationship with
They get along with each other at work.
They have a good relationship with each other at work.
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get out of
exit
He told me to get out of the car.
He told me to exit the car.
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get out of
leave
She got out of teaching last year.
She left teaching last year.
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get over
recover from
It took her two weeks to get over the flu.
It took her two weeks to recover from the flu.
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get through
finish
I finally got through the reading last night.
I finally finished the reading last night.
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get through to
reach by phone
She tried to get through to him, but the line was busy.
She tried to reach him by phone, but the line was busy.
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get to
arrive at
We got to the station just before it closed.
We arrived at the station just before it closed.
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get to
annoy
His comments really get to me.
His comments really annoy me.
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About this set
Do not try to learn every item in one sitting. Start with get on, get over, and get through — they appear in daily speech more than the rest.
A few pairs look similar (get on / get along, get out of / get away with). The notes below mark the ones learners mix up.
Usage notes
- get over. Inseparable. Get over an illness or a breakup means recover. It is not the same as get through a hard day.
- get through. Can mean finish something difficult or reach someone by phone. Get through to adds the “reach a person” meaning.
- get on with. Get on with a person = have a good relationship. Get on with a task = continue it. The object decides.
- get away with. Means avoid punishment. Get away from in this pack means take a break from a place. The last word is the whole difference.
Common questions
Are get on and get along the same?
For relationships, yes in most everyday speech: we get on / we get along. Get along with is more common in American English; get on with is more common in British English.
What is the difference between get over and get through?
Get over is recover from something that happened (an illness, a shock). Get through is survive or finish something that is still happening (a long day, an exam).
Does get out of always mean leave a place?
No. Get out of a car is literal. Get out of doing the washing-up means avoid a duty. Both appear in English; this pack practises both patterns.