Jake BorlandCo-Founder
Get is one of the most common verbs in English, and it also forms the basis of dozens of idioms. Here are 23 of the most useful ones.
You already know that get means to receive or obtain something. But get is also one of the most productive verbs in English for forming idioms. These expressions appear regularly in conversation, and recognising them will make a significant difference to your comprehension.
Get the picture means to understand a situation. Get the message means to understand what someone is telling you, even if they are not being direct. Get the drift means much the same thing. Do you get what I mean? is a very common way to check understanding.
Get the ball rolling means to start something or to get things moving. Get off the ground means for a project or plan to begin successfully. Get ahead means to make progress in life or in a career. Get a move on means to hurry up.
Get on someone's nerves means to annoy them. Get out of hand means for a situation to become difficult to control. Get into trouble means to find yourself in a difficult or problematic situation. Get cold feet means to become nervous or hesitant about something you planned to do.
Get carried away means to become so excited or involved in something that you lose control. Get worked up means to become upset or anxious. Get a kick out of something means to really enjoy it. Get on your high horse means to act in a way that is superior or self-righteous.
Get away with something means to do something wrong without being punished. Get to the point means to say the most important thing directly without unnecessary introduction. Get the wrong end of the stick means to misunderstand a situation completely. Get wind of something means to hear a rumour or piece of information. Get your act together means to organise yourself and behave more responsibly.
The best way to internalise idioms is to notice them in use and then try using them yourself in appropriate situations. Start with the ones you find most useful or that come up most frequently in the contexts you encounter, and build from there.
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Learn to use idioms naturally in our General English courses in Dubai
Written by
Jake Borland
Co-Founder
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