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Where did you get (=buy) those new shoes? | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] Will you get this book for me/get me this book from the library? | What did she get you for your birthday? 3 [T no pass.] to catch (an illness): I got flu twice last year. | I always get a headache if I drink too much. SHOWS A CHANGE IN POSITION: TO MOVE OR BE MOVED 4 to catch (a bus, train etc): We got the six o'clock (train) from London. 5 [+adv/prep;T+obj+adv/prep] to (cause to) come, go, or move: 'Get out (of my house)!' he shouted. | I got into the car. | He got off his bike. | They got onto the plane at Cairo. | Where has my pen got to? (=I can't find it) | It's late; I must be getting (back) home. | My feet are so swollen I can't get my boots on/off. | I've got so fat that I can't get into my jeans. | We finally got the box through the hole. | Get that cat out of the house before Mother sees it! | I managed to get these watches through customs without being questioned. | (fig.) He gets into a terrible temper if you contradict him. | (fig.) I finally succeeded in getting (off) to sleep at midnight. | (fig.) If you tell the teacher about it you'll get me into dreadful trouble. 6 [+adv/prep] to arrive at or reach a place or point: We got to Paris at 8 o'clock. | When did you get here? | We got home very late. | What time does the train get into Edinburgh? | 'How far have you got with your book?' 'I've got up to the last chapter.' | We're getting nowhere with this plan; we'll have to try something else. 7 [T] to bring from one place to another; FETCH or collect: I'm just going to get the children from school. SHOWS A CHANGE IN STATE 8 [L] to become: [+adj] The food's getting cold. | They must have got lost. | I want to plant the roses before it gets dark. | My cat's getting too old to catch any mice. | She's getting worried about her exams. | They've just got married. | He's getting better. (=after an illness) | 'Where's David?' 'He's upstairs getting ready to go out.' | It gets really cold here in the wintertime. | You'll soon get used to your new job. | [+v-ing] Let's get going. | Our report is late; we must get going/moving/ weaving. (=start work on it) 9 [L+v-ed] (used like the PASSIVE) to be: His finger got trapped in the door. | If you go there alone after dark you might get attacked and robbed. 10 [T] to bring into or cause to be in a certain state: [+obj+adj] I'll get the children ready for school. | Let me get this clear: is she married or not? | He got all the answers wrong. | This cold weather is really getting me down. (=making me unhappy) | I'm so disorganized – I really must get myself together. | [+obj+v-ed] I got the work finished just in time. | I must get this radio mended. 11 [T] to cause (to do or be): [+obj+to-v] I got him to help me when I moved the furniture. | I can't get the car to start. | [+obj+v-ing] We'll get the party going with some music. | I got the radio working again by twiddling with some wires. 12 [I+to-v] a) to do something gradually or with the passing of time: He's getting to be an old man now. | When you get to know him you'll find he's quite nice. b) to have it happen that one does something, by chance or permission: If I get to see him I'll ask him about it. | She never gets to drive the car. OTHER MEANINGS 13 [T] to prepare (a meal): I'm in the middle of getting (the) dinner. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] Will you get the children their supper tonight? 14 [T] to hear: I didn't quite get what you said; would you speak a little louder? 15 [T] to understand: I don't get it; why did he do that? | I try to make him understand that I'm not interested in him, but he never gets the message. | Now don't get me wrong; I never meant to imply I didn't like him. 16 [T] to succeed in making a telephone call to, or receive a telephone call or a radio or television signal from: I wanted to speak to the managing director, but I got the office boy. | 'The phone's ringing.' 'I'll get it.' | Can you get Peking on your radio? | I've been ringing his office all day, but I can't get hold of him. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] Get me New York please, operator. | Sorry, you've got the wrong number. 17 [T no pass.] infml to annoy: It really gets me when he says those stupid things. 18 [T] infml a) [(for)] to punish or harm (someone) in return for harm they have done to you: I'll get you for that, you swine! b) to catch or attack: If they try to escape from the island, the crocodiles will get them. c) to hit or wound: I got the minister on the ear with a potato. | Where did the bullet get you? 19 [T no pass.] infml to defeat or confuse (someone): 'What's the square root of three?' 'I don't know; you've got me there.' FIXED PHRASES 20 get you/him/her etc slang (used as an expression of disapproval) look at or listen to you/him/her etc: Get her! Who does she think she is, trying to give us orders like that? 21 have got to have: I've got a dog called Fido. | Have you got the time, please? 22 you get infml there is/are: In winter you get strong winds here. → see also get one's own back (OWN¹)
PHRASAL VERBS
get about/around phr v [I] 1 to move or travel from place to place: He's getting old and he doesn't get about much any more. | She gets about quite a lot, working for an international company. 2 also get round BrE — (of news etc) to spread; CIRCULATE: The news of their secret wedding soon got about.
get across phr v [I;T= get sthg. ↔ across/(to)] to (cause to) be understood or accepted, especially by a large group: Our teacher is clever, but not very good at getting his ideas across (to us). | The message got across at last.
get along phr v [I] 1 (of a person) to continue, often in spite of difficulties; manage: He didn't even offer to help us, but I'm sure we can get along quite well without him. 2 to advance; GET on: How's the work getting along? 3 [(with)] to form or have a friendly relationship; GET on: Do you get along well with your aunt? 4 (of a person) to leave: I must be getting along now; it's late. 5 Get along with you! infml a) especially BrE I don't believe you! b) especially AmE Leave now!
get around phr v 1 [I] to GET about 2 [T] (get around sthg.) also get round — to avoid or find a way to deal with (something) to one's advantage; CIRCUMVENT: If you're clever, you can sometimes get around the tax laws.
get around/round to sthg. phr v [T] to find time for; do at last: I've been meaning to see that film for ages, and I finally got around to it last week. | [+v-ing] After a long delay, he got around to writing the letter.
get at sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] 1 to reach or find: Put the food where the cat can't get at it. | Let's hope this public enquiry can get at the truth. | I'm dying to get at that fudge cake. 2 [no pass.; in progressive forms] to suggest indirectly; IMPLY: What exactly is he getting at when he says I might be better suited to a different job? | I don't see what you're getting at. (=I don't understand your meaning) 3 [often pass.] infml, especially BrE to (try to) influence unfairly by offers of money: Some of the jurors had been got at. 4 BrE [usually in progressive forms] infml to say unkind things to, especially repeatedly: Stop getting at me!
get away phr v [I] 1 to succeed in leaving: I'm sorry I'm late; I was in a meeting and couldn't get away. 2 to escape, especially from the scene of a crime or from being caught: The thieves got away (with all our money). | I caught a really big fish but it got away. → see also GETAWAY 3 one can't get away from also there's no getting away from — one has to admit the truth of (something, especially something unpleasant): One can't get away from the fact that it would cost a lot of money. 4 get away from it all to have a relaxing time in a place that is very different from where you live or work: When we want to get away from it all, we go to the mountains.
get away with sthg. phr v [T] 1 to do (something wrong) without being caught or punished: Don't try to deceive the taxman; you'll never get away with it. | [+v-ing] How did he get away with cheating? 2 get away with murder infml to escape punishment for something wrong that you have done: His mother's much too soft; she lets him get away with murder.
get back phr v 1 [I] to return, especially to one's home: It's late; we must be getting back. | I heard you were away. When did you get back? | I wish you would get back to basics (=return to important matters) and stop all this talk about winning the lottery. 2 [^(N)] to return to political power after having lost it: Will the Labour Party get back in at the next election? 3 [(FROM)] stand away from: Get back! There's a train coming. | Please get back from the road. 4 [T(get sthg. ↔ back)] to obtain again after loss or separation: He got his old job back.
get back at sbdy. phr v [T] infml to punish (someone) in return for a wrong done to oneself: I'll get back at him one day!
get back to sbdy. phr v [T] to speak or write to again later: I can't give you an answer now, but I'll get back to you.
get behind phr v [(with)] to fail to produce something at the proper time: They've got behind with their rent again.
get by phr v [I] 1 to have enough money for one's needs or way of life: We can't get by on my salary alone. 2 to be good enough but not very good; be acceptable: Your work will get by, but try to improve it.
get down phr v 1 [I] AmE infml to enjoy oneself, especially at a party or with others: We're really going to get down on Saturday night. 2 [T(get sthg. ↔ down)] to swallow, especially with difficulty: Try to get the medicine down. 3 [T(get sthg. ↔ down)] to record in writing: Get down every word she says. 4 [T(get sbdy. down)] to cause to feel nervous, ill, or sad; DEPRESS: This