A. Meanings of get

Get is used frequently in spoken English. It has the following basic meanings:

• receive, obtain or buy something, e.g. Please get me a sandwich when you’re in town. I got a text from John today. She got top marks in her exam.
• change position – move or be moved, e.g. How are you getting home tonight?
• change state – become or make, e.g. She’s ill but she’s getting better.

B. Specific meanings of get

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. [became 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	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]