Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)

[get the lowdown on] <v. phr.> To receive the full inside information on a person or thing. * /We need to get the lowdown on Peter before we can decide whether or not to hire him./

[get the message] or [get the word] <v. phr.>, <slang> To understand clearly what is meant. * /The principal talked to the students about being on time, and most of them got the message./ * /Mary hinted to her boyfriend that she wanted to break up, but he didn't gel the message./ Compare: THE PICTURE.

[get the picture] See: THE PICTURE.

[get the runaround] See: RUN AROUND.

[get the sack] <v. phr.>, <slang> 1. To be fired or dismissed from work. * /John got the sack at the factory last week./ 2. To be told by one's lover that the relationship is over. * /Joanna gave Sam the sack./ See: GET THE AX and GET THE BOUNCE(2).

[get the show on the road]<v. phr.>, <informal> To start a program; get work started. * /It was several years before the rocket scientists got the show on the road./ Compare: GET THE BALL ROLLING.

[get the third degree] See: THIRD DEGREE.

[get the upper hand on] See: UPPER HAND.

[get the word] See: GET THE MESSAGE.

[get the works] See: THE WORKS.

[get the worst of] also [have the worst of] <v. phr.> To lose; be defeated or beaten in; suffer most. * /Joe got the worst of the argument with Molly./ - Often used in the phrase "the worst of it". * /If you start a fight with Jim, you may get the worst of it./ * /Bill had the worst of it in his race with Al./ * /Jack traded his knife for a few marbles; he got the worst of it in that trade./ * /The driver of the car got the worst of it in the accident./ Contrast: GET THE BETTER OF(2).

[get through] <v. phr.> 1. To finish. * /Barry got through his homework by late evening./ 2. To pass a course or an examination. * /I got through every one of my courses except mathematics./

[get through one's head] <v. phr.> 1. To understand or believe. * /Jack couldn't get it through his head that his father wouldn't let him go to camp if his grades didn't improve./ * /At last Mary got it through her head that she had failed to pass the test./ 2. To make someone understand or believe. * /I'll get it through his head if it takes all night./

[get through to] <v.> To be understood by; make (someone) understand. * /The little boy could not get through to his housemother./ * /Deaf people sometimes find it hard to get through to strangers./ * /When the rich boy's father lost his money, it took a long time for the idea to get through to him that he'd have to work and support himself./

[get to] <v. phr.>, <informal> 1. To begin by chance; begin to. Used with a verbal noun or an infinitive. * /George meant to save his dollar, but he got to thinking how good an ice cream cone would taste, and he spent it./ * /On a rainy day, Sally got to looking around in the attic and found some old pictures of Father./ * /I got to know Mary at the party./ * /I was just getting to know John when he moved away./ Compare: TAKE TO(2). 2. To have a chance to; be able to. * /The Taylors wanted to go to the beach Saturday, but it rained and they didn't get to./ * /Did you get to see the king?/ Compare: GET AT(3). 3. See: HAVE TO.

[get to first base] or [reach first base] <v. phr.> To make a good start; really begin; succeed, * /Joe had a long paper to write for history class, but when the teacher asked for it, Joe hadn't got to first base yet./ * /Suppose Sam falls in love with Betty. Can he even get to first base with her?/ * /George wants to go to college and become a teacher, but I'll be surprised if he even reaches first base./ * /If you don't dress neatly, you won't get to first base when you look for a job./ Compare: FIRST BASE.

[get together] <v.> To come to an agreement; agree. * /Mother says I should finish my arithmetic lesson, and Father says I should mow the lawn. Why don't you two get together?/

[get-together] <n.> A party; a gathering. * /I hate to break up this nice get-together but we must leave./ * /We manage to have a get-together with our old friends once or twice a year./

[get to the bottom of] <v. phr.> To find out the real cause of. * /The superintendent talked with several students to get to the bottom of the trouble./ * /The doctor made several tests to get to the bottom of the man's headaches./ Compare: GET TO THE HEART OF.

[get to the heart of] <v. phr.> To find the most important facts about or the central meaning of; understand the most important thing about. * /You can often get to the heart of people's unhappiness by letting them talk./ * /"If you can find a topic sentence, often it will help you get to the heart of the paragraph," said the teacher./

[get to the point] See: COME TO THE POINT.

[get two strikes against one] See: TWO STRIKES AGAINST.

[get underway] <v. phr.> To set out on a journey; start going. * /We are delighted that our new Ph.D. program finally got underway./

[get under one's skin] <v. phr.> To bother; upset. * /The students get under Mary's skin by talking about her freckles./ * /Children who talk too much in class get under the teacher's skin./

[get up] <v.> 1. To get out of bed. * /John's mother told him that it was time to get up./ 2. To stand up; get to your feet. * /A man should get up when a woman comes into the room./ 3. To prepare; get ready. * /Mary got up a picnic for her visitor./ * /The students got up a special number of the newspaper to celebrate the school's 50th birthday./ 4. To dress up. * /One of the girls got herself up as a witch for the Halloween party./ 5. To go ahead. * /The wagon driver shouted, "Get up!" to his horses./

[get up] or [rise with the chickens] <v. phr.> To rise very early in the morning. * /All the farmers in this village get up with the chickens./ Contrast: GO TO BED WITH THE CHICKENS.

[get-up] <n.> (stress on "get") Fancy dress or costume. * /Some get-up you're wearing!/

[get-up-and-go] also [get-up-and-get] <n. phr.>, <informal> Energetic enthusiasm; ambitious determination; pep; drive; push. * /Joe has a lot of get-up-and-go and is working his way through school./

[get up on the wrong side of the bed] <v. phr.>, <informal> To awake with a bad temper. * /Henry got up on the wrong side of the bed and wouldn't eat breakfast./ * /The man went to bed very late and got up on the wrong side of the bed./

[get up the nerve] <v. phr.> To build up your courage until you are brave enough; become brave enough. * /Jack got up the nerve to ask Ruth to dance with him./ * /The hungry little boy got up nerve to ask for another piece of cake./