get one’s start— = get a start 2: She helped me to get my start by recommending me to the manager. get a word in • put a word in get a word in—(also: get in a word) succeed in saying smth. when other people are talking ignoring you: You are so hot- headed and exclamatory that I cannot get a word in . Cf.: get a word in edgewise—used as an emphatic variant of the former: I want to ask him about the book, but it’s a little hard to get a word in edgewise . Everyone’s animated and talking all at once. put a word in—(also: put in a word) 1. contribute an utter- ance to a conversation: He seemed oblivious to the fact that Picard had been trying to put a word in for the past minute or two. 2. speak in support of smb.; recommend a person: You may depend upon my putting in a word for you whenever I can. get around something • get around to something get around something—(also: get round something) circum- vent or evade rules, regulations, etc. (without committing a legal offence): In order to get around this legal point the refugees are said to be “housed” there rather than “detained.” Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase get one’s head around something—(coll.) understand or come to terms with smth.: I’ve got my head around the fact that I’m going to miss a number of games. It was difficult at the start when I first picked up the injury. get around to something —(also: get round to something ) find time for smth.; deal with smth. (when more important matters have been dealt with): Don’t leave it to chance or think you will get around to it later when you have more time. get away • make one’s getaway get away—1. leave a place, especially with some difficulty: “Sorry I couldn’t get away sooner,” said Patrick. “I had some things to finish up.” 2. escape from prison, the police, etc.: Police say the suspect got away on a green motorcycle with no tags. 3. escape smth. dangerous: There were five seconds between him and eternity and how he got away before the explosion is a mystery. 4. spend time away from a place: It was nice to get away for a few days, and just enjoy each other’s company. make one’s getaway—1. = get away 2: A man suspected of stealing made his getaway on a bicycle. 2. have a short vaca- tion: Still no plans for your summer vacation? …but it’s not too late to make your getaway . get back at someone • get back to someone get back at someone—gain revenge against a person: Students have no way of getting back at a teacher who marks their work unfairly. get back to someone—speak to smb. again at a later time (by telephone): I’ll take advice on this matter and get back to you this afternoon. get back on the rails • go off the rails get back on the rails—successfully recover from adverse sit- uation, etc.: Bob Taft’s campaign got back on the rails in last week’s primaries. One victory came in Wisconsin… go off the rails—(also: run off the rails) start behaving in a way that is not acceptable: Returning to the U.S., he is dis- owned by the CIA, which portrays him as a rogue agent who went off the rails . get by on something • get by with something get by on something—survive by means of smth. (usually inadequate): She gets by on odd jobs hoping to make it through the worst crisis that has ever hit the economy. get by with something —1. = get by on something: I don’t know how she gets by with the money she earns from that job. 2. manage with smth. that is available, for want of anything bet- ter: You may be able to get by with one screwdriver but it’s better to buy a large and a small one. 3. (also: get away with something ) go unpunished for doing smth. reprehensible: Don’t try to cheat on your income tax, you’ll never get by with it. get caught doing something • get caught up on something get caught doing something—be found doing smth. repre- hensible; get caught in the act: Did Vi get caught driving without a license? Did she get a ticket? get caught up on something—do things that one has not had time to do until now: I have to get caught up on my studies. I missed two classes. get cold feet • hotfoot it get cold feet—lose one’s courage or nerve: Do you think he is just getting cold feet , or do you think it’s more than that? We are afraid he just won’t show up at the church. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase cool one’s heels—(coll.) be kept waiting by smb. in authority, as for an appointment (also: kick one’s heels): The doc- tor kept her cooling her heels for almost an hour. hotfoot it—leave in great haste; walk or run hurriedly: The camp staff expects that once the shouts of the campers fill the hollow, the bear will hotfoot it out of there. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase foot it—(coll., also: leg it) walk; go on foot: Several of the wagons became sloughed and the passengers were compelled to “foot it ” to town. get full marks for something • get full marks in something get full marks for something —1. gain the maximum number of marks in a subject: Half the students got full marks for what was intended to be an easy question. 2. be praised for some good quality: Mr. Jenkins gets full marks for his courage and enterprise. get full marks in something —(also: score full marks in some- thing ) = get full marks for something 1: Only one in six adults got full marks in a test of six familiar words. get-go • get-up-and-go get-go—(coll., in the phrase “from the get-go”) from the begin- ning: I think Sawyer knew from the get-go that his escape attempt would fail. get-up-and-go —(coll.) readiness for vigorous activity: He was noted for his “get-up-and-go ,” a quality which later enabled him to win success. get hold of someone • take hold of someone get hold of someone—1. physically grasp or hold a person: I got hold of him and dragged him back from the edge just in time. 2. locate a person; secure smb.’s presence: There had been considerable difficulty in getting hold of a key witness. 3. reach smb. on the telephone: I was able to get hold of the office manager and cancel the order. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase have hold of someone—(also: have a hold over someone) have power or control over a person: They are what is called “willed” to do certain things desired by the gentlemen who have hold of them. take hold of someone— = get hold of someone 1: This beautiful and most anomalous structure is adapted to take hold of float- ing marine animals. get a word in – 132 –