English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate » Unit 91: Expressions with get
I don’t often get interesting junk mail. However, an unusual item came this morning. It was headed ‘Are things getting you down _____? Do you feel you’ll just never get to do _____ all those things you dream of?’ And it went on, ‘If so, get _____ this great new book today: Manage Your World by Simon Triksta. It will teach you how to get over _____ those daily upsets, and will ensure that you get _____ the contentment in your work that you long for and that you fulfil your dreams. Send €25 today to get _____ Manage Your World and your key to success within ten days.’ Maybe I should get _____ it!
Complete the following sentences in a way that is true for you.
Get is used frequently in spoken English. It has the following basic meanings:
Get also has many other more specific meanings.
It's my turn to get dinner tonight. [prepare a meal]
I don't get it. Why did he speak like that? [ understand]
His behaviour really gets me at times. [annoy]
I saw Harry's new girlfriend at the party but I didn't get to speak to her. [manage]
Once we got to know each other, we became great friends. [become acquainted]
The phone's ringing and there's someone at the door! You get the phone and I'll get the door. [ answer, respond to]
| phrasal verb | meaning | example |
| get across | successfully communicate an idea | It was difficult to get my point of view across to the committee. |
| get at | reach, find | I hope the inquiry will get at the truth. |
| get behind with | fail to do something by a certain time | I’ve got terribly behind with my work. |
| get down | depress | This weather is getting me down. |
| get down to | begin to give some serious attention to | It’s time you got down to some work. |
| get into | be successful with an application (e.g. to a college/school) | She did well in her exams and got into university. |
| get on | manage | However will we get on without you? |
| get on | advance, develop | Jo is getting on very well at school. |
| get out of | avoid a responsibility | I’ll try to get out of my next lesson. |
| get over | recover from | She’s getting over a bad attack of flu. |
| get round | spread | The news soon got round the village. |
| get round to | do something you’ve intended to do for a long time | I need to buy a new desk but I can’t get round to it. I’m so busy. |
| get through | come to a successful end | I’m glad she got through all her exams! |
| get through | use up all of | He got through his month’s salary in just one weekend. |
| get up to | to do (especially something bad) | The children are very quiet. I wonder what they’re getting up to? |
You seem to have got out of bed on the wrong side today. [be in a bad mood]
The meeting got off to a good/bad start with Elliot’s speech. [started well/badly]
I'm organising a little get-together. I hope you can come. [informal meeting/party]
When they broke up he got rid of everything of hers. [threw away / destroyed]
I'm going to get my own back on her somehow. [take my revenge]
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