hold oneself together—(also: keep oneself together) keep one’s composure; maintain one’s good sense: It was only through the kindness of my friend and fellow musician that I was able to hold myself together . get onto someone • get to someone get onto someone—1. get in touch with smb., especially by telephone: I’ll have to get onto Sarah about the deadline. 2. (coll.) keep nagging or annoy a person: She’s been getting onto me for a year to buy her a new coat. 3. (coll.) trace or find a person: He tricked people for years until the police got onto him. get to someone—1. = get onto someone 1: I got to her on the telephone and told her what to do. 2. (coll.) be understood by a person: I’ve tried to help the troublesome boy, but I can’t seem to get to him. 3. (coll.) have an effect on smb.’s feelings: His sad story really got to me, and I was moved to help him. 4. (U.S. sl.) persuade smb. to do smth., especially by bribing: Gangsters can’t operate on a satisfactory scale until they have “got to someone.” get out of it • snap out of it get out of it1. escape from a difficult or awkward situation: They wanted us to go lunch. I did my best to get out of it . 2. (coll.) is used to tell a person not to talk nonsense: Get out of it ! You can’t expect me to believe that! snap out of it—(coll.) free oneself from a state of depression by an effort: For heaven’s sake, Lucia, snap out of it and act like a human being. Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase snap to it—(coll.) start moving or working quickly: I want those bricks moved; come on, snap to it ! get out of the way • put oneself out of the way get out of the way—1. stand aside or withdraw: John dived for cover but the camera-man played it cool, pausing to switch on the camera before getting out of the way . 2. (also: get out of my way) used as a rude command for a person to move from his place or to go away: “Get out of the way ,” the man shouted and pushed him. put oneself out of the way—1. (also: go out of one’s way) go to a lot of trouble to do smth. well: Why should Lady Castle- wood put herself out of the way to welcome the young stranger? 2. remove oneself from the scene: So he went abroad, to put himself out of the way … and also as a matter of per- sonal development. get out of the way of doing something • go out of the way to do something get out of the way of doing something—forget how to do smth.: You soon get out of the way of driving when you haven’t had a car for some time. go out of the way to do something—(also: put oneself out of the way to do something ) go to great trouble to do smth. well: A dedicated employee will go out of the way to solve your problem. get out of town • go to the country get out of town(coll.) 1. get out of a place: If father hears you talking like that, you’d better pack your bags and get out of town . 2. (exclam.) used as an emphatic expression of dis- belief: You made a ton of money on that stock? Get out of town ! go to the country —(of election candidates) appeal to the body of electors (appearing on television, etc.): The cry of a “cheap breakfast table” would no longer be one “to go to the country with.” See also: go out on the town / go to town. get over something • get something over get over something—1. recover from an illness, shock, etc.: George did not get over his homesickness for some time. 2. overcome a difficulty, etc.; rise above smth.: The music indus- try can’t get over the fact that music and video will be free. get something over—1. cause smth. to become understood or accepted: We need to get the message over that bookselling incurs certain expenses. 2. (also: get something over with) get smth. finished fast: Feelings of urgency and frustration often come when you want to get the work over quickly. get religion • lose one’s religion get religion—1. acquire deep religious beliefs: She left him when she got religion and quit the porn business. 2. resolve to mend one’s ways (usually after a powerful experience): When I had an automobile accident, I really got religion . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase enter into religion—(dated) adopt a monastic life: We must enter into religion and be made nuns by will or by force. lose one’s religion—1. give up one’s religious beliefs and prac- tices: It can be an overwhelmingly lonely experience to lose one’s religion . 2. (U.S. coll.) lose one’s temper or one’s better judgment: I purchased a shelf and I almost lost my religion last night trying to put it together. get round something • get round to something get round something—(also: get around something) circum- vent or evade rules, regulations, etc. (without committing a legal offence): A clever lawyer might find ways of getting round that clause. get round to something —(also: get around to something ) find time for smth.; deal with smth. (when more important matters have been dealt with): I’m busy now but I hope to get round to your request next week. get sick • go sick get sick —1. be taken ill: Let the woman of a house get sick , and it just goes to pieces. 2. feel an inclination to vomit: The bay was rough; thirty minutes out and the boys began to get sick . go sick —report oneself as ill to an employer, etc.: Filthy cli- mate. But she just carries on. Hasn’t gone sick once in six months. get someone down • take someone down get someone down1. (also: bring someone to the ground) cause a person to come down or fall: You get the biggest man down , and I’ll fight the other two. 2. make a person feel depressed: I spend most of my working time indoors, but even so this wet weather is getting me down . take someone down—1. (also: take someone down a peg ) make smb. feel less important; humiliate a person: He seems to expe- rience satisfaction in what he calls taking me down . 2. write down smb.’s words: I enlisted a poet for company, and a ste- nographer to “take him down .” See also: bring someone down / bring someone down a peg. get someone in wrong • get someone wrong get someone in wrong—cause a person to fall into disfavor with smb.: You’ll get him in wrong with his boss if you keep calling him at the office. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase put someone in the wrongshow a person to be wrong: People want to think that they’re right, and if you put them in the wrong , they won’t like it. get someone wrong—misinterpret the intention of smb.’s statement or deed: Don’t get her wrong , she still loves him, but she is understandably cautious. get onto someone – 136 –