12 Phrasal Verbs with GET

Phrasal verbs are often an English learner's worst nightmare. Unfortunately, they are so commonly use by English speakers you can’t escape them!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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