Commonly used english part 25 docx

get something straight- to understand something clearly I could not get what my friend was trying to tell me straight.. get the cold shoulder - to be ignored or rejected My friend got th

get (something) straight

- to understand something clearly

I could not get what my friend was trying to tell me straight

get (something) through (someone's) thick skull

- to manage to get someone to understand something

I could not get it through my friend's thick skull that I would not go on a holiday with him

get (something) under control

- to be able to control something

The fire fighters were quickly able to get the fire under control

get the ax

- to be fired

The man got the ax last week and now has no job

get the ball rolling

- to start something

"Let`s get the ball rolling and start planning the party."

get the benefit of the doubt

- to receive a decision in your favor when the evidence in neither for you nor against you

I got the benefit of the doubt when I complained about my parking ticket

get the better of (someone)

- to beat/defeat (someone), to win against someone

My friend got the better of me and won the tennis match

get the blues

- to become sad or depressed

Every winter my neighbor seems to get the blues

get the boot

- to be fired, to be told to leave a place

I got the boot from my first job in high school

The man got the boot from the restaurant for smoking

get the brush-off

- to be ignored or sent away

I got the brush-off when I asked the girl to dance

get the cold shoulder

- to be ignored or rejected

My friend got the cold shoulder when he went to the expensive restaurant

get the day off

- to have a free day from work

I hope to get the day off tomorrow so I can visit my grandfather in the hospital

get the facts straight

- to get a good understanding of the facts

I do not believe that our supervisor got the facts straight when she heard about our argument

get the feel of (something)

- to become used to or learn about something

After you get the feel of the new computer it is very easy to use

get the floor

- to receive official permission to address an audience

When the principal finally got the floor everybody was ready to go home

get the go-ahead

- to receive a signal to start something

The construction company got the go-ahead to begin work on the new stadium

get the goods on (someone)

- to find out true but often negative information about someone

I think that I have got the goods on the man and will talk to the police soon

get the hang of (something)

- to learn how to do something

The boy was asked to help with the sound system after he got the hang of it

get the jump on (someone)

- to get ahead of someone

We left home early so we could get the jump on the other travellers

get the last laugh

- to laugh at someone who has laughed at you

We got the last laugh when the car that had passed us on the highway got a speeding ticket

get the lead out

- to hurry

"Get the lead out," I said to my slow friend

get the lowdown on (someone or something)

- to receive the full story about someone or something

I met a friend for coffee to get the lowdown on our friend who is getting married

get the message

- to clearly understand the meaning of something

I told my friend to be quiet but I do not think that he got the message

get the nod

- to be chosen for something

My favorite candidate got the nod to represent us in the election

get the once-over

- to receive a quick visual examination

I quickly got the once-over when I arrived for the job interview

get the picture

- to understand the whole situation

I did not get the picture of what my friend was saying about his new girlfriend

get the red-carpet treatment

- to receive very special treatment

The Queen of England got the red-carpet treatment during her trip to Australia

get the runaround

- to receive a series of excuses and delays

I got the runaround when I went to talk to the company about my parking ticket

get the sack

- to be fired from a job

I told the employee that if he does not change his work habits he will get the sack

get the shock of one's life

- to receive a serious emotional shock

I got the shock of my life when I saw my teacher on TV

get the short end of the stick

- to get less than others

I sometimes get the short end of the stick and I have to do more work than the other students

get the show on the road

- to start working on something

"Let`s get the show on the road and begin work for the day."

get the third degree

- to be questioned in great detail and for a long period of time

The boy got the third degree when he came home late for dinner

get the upper hand (on someone)

- to get into a position superior to someone

I got the upper hand during my dispute with the apartment manager

get the worst of (something)

- to be defeated, to receive less benefit than someone else

The man got the worst of the deal when the salesman sold him the used car

get through (something)

- to complete something, to finish something, to survive something

My friend is having trouble getting through her final exams

I have much reading that I must get through before tomorrow

get through to (someone)

- to make someone understand something

I tried talking to the woman but I could not get through to her

get time off

- to receive a holiday from work

I can never get time off in the summer

get to do (something)

- to have a chance or to be able to do something

I did not get to go to the circus last week

get to first base

- to make a start, to succeed

I tried to meet the company president but I could not get to first base

get to one's feet

- to stand up

The members of the audience got to their feet when the concert finished

get to the bottom of (something)

- to find out the real cause/answer of something

The government wants to get to the bottom of the financial problems in the company

get to the heart of (something)

- to understand the most important thing about something

We were in the meeting for three hours trying to get to the heart of the problem

get to the root of a problem

- to get an understanding of the causes of a problem

The purpose of the meeting was to get to the root of the problem about the money

get tough with (someone)

- to become firm/strict with someone

The school plans to get tough with students who are late

get under (someone`s) skin

- to bother or upset someone

The woman always gets under my skin although I do not really know why

get under way

- to start

The festival got under way early this morning

get up

- to get out of bed, to get to one`s feet

I got up early today so that I could go fishing with my friend

- energy, enthusiasm, drive

The man has lots of get-up-and-go and it is difficult to follow him around

get up enough nerve (to do something)

- to become brave enough to do something

I finally got up enough nerve to ask the woman for a date

get up on the wrong side of the bed

- to be in a bad mood

My friend got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and will not talk to anyone

get up the nerve to (do something)

- to become brave enough to do something

I tried to get up the nerve to ask my friend about his new job

get used to (someone or something)

- to become accustomed to someone or something

I am slowly getting used to my new job

get what`s coming to one

- to receive the good or bad that one deserves

The criminal got what was coming to him when he was sent to jail for two years

get wind of (something)

- to hear about something

I got wind of the changes in our company from my friend

get wise to (someone or something)

- to learn about something that is a secret

The man got wise to the fact that someone was stealing his money

get with it

- to pay attention, to get busy

I told my friend to get with it or he would have problems with his boss

get worked up about/over (something)

- to get excited or angry about something

My friend always gets worked up about his problems at work

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getup

- fancy dress or costume

"What was that strange getup that your friend was wearing the other day?"

ghost of a chance

- very little chance, the smallest chance

The boy does not have a ghost of a chance to finish his homework before class

gift of the gab

- the ability to talk well

My friend has the gift of the gab and is fun at a party

give Idioms

give a wide birth to (someone or something)

- to keep away from someone or something, to keep a safe distance from someone or something

I usually give a wide birth to my boss when he is angry

give-and-take

- sharing, giving and receiving between people

You must be willing to give-and-take if you want to have a good marriage

give away (a secret)

- to let a secret become known

I do not want my friend to give away my plans to go to Mexico for a holiday

give away (something)

- to give something to someone

I decided to give away my bicycle because I did not need it anymore

give birth

- to have a baby

The woman gave birth to a baby boy last night

give chase to (someone or something)

- to chase or run after someone or something

The police gave chase to the man who robbed the store