Page 189 - English Vocabualry In Use 3 (Upper Intermediate)
P. 189

91                Expressions with get








                  A       Meanings of get

                          Get isusedfrequentlyinspokenEnglish.Ithasthefollowingbasicmeanings:
                          • receive,obtainorbuysomething,e.g.Pleasegetmeasandwichwhenyou’reintown.Igot
                             atextfromJohntoday.Shegottopmarksinherexam.
                          • changeposition-moveorbemoved,e.g.Howareyougetting hometonight?
                          • changestate-becomeormake,e.g.She’sillbutshe’sgetting better.


                  B       Specific meanings of get

                          Get alsohasmanyothermorespecificmeanings.
                          It’smyturntogetdinnertonight.[prepareameal]
                          Idon’tgetit.Whydidhespeaklikethat?[understand]
                          Hisbehaviourreallygetsmeattimes.[annoy]
                          IsawHarry’snewgirlfriendatthepartybutIdidn’tgettospeaktoher.[manage]

                          Oncewegottoknoweachother,webecamegreatfriends.[becameacquainted]
                          Thephone’sringingandthere’ssomeoneatthedoor!YougetthephoneandI’llgetthe
                          door.[answer,respondto]


                  C       Phrasal verbs based on get

                            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         I’ve got terribly behind with my work.
                                                  time
                            get down              depress                                   This weather is getting me down.

                            get down to           begin to give some serious attention      It’s time you got down to some work.
                                                  to
                            get into              be successful with an application         She did well in her exams and got into
                                                  (e.g. to a college/school)                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        I need to buy a new desk but I can’t get
                                                  for a long time                           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?


                  D       Other expressions based on get
                          Youseemtohavegotoutofbedonthewrongsidetoday.[beinabadmood]
                          Themeetinggotofftoagood/badstartwithElliot’sspeech.[startedwell/badly]

                          I’morganisingalittleget-together.Ihopeyoucancome.[informalmeeting/party]
                          Whentheybrokeuphegotridofeverythingofhers.[threwaway/destroyed]
                          I’mgoingtogetmyownbackonhersomehow.[takemyrevenge]


        188               English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate
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