A phrasal verb (also called multi-word verb) is a combination of a verb and a preposition, a verb and an adverb, or a verb with both an adverb and a preposition. Generally the meaning of a phrasal verb is completely different from the normal meaning of the verb on its own. Phrasal verbs are very common in spoken and written English. In today’s lesson, we’ll look at the most common phrasal verbs with ‘get’.
Below is a dialogue between two accountants. Try to guess the meanings of the phrasal verbs with ‘get’.
Dialogue
- Alan: It was you day off yesterday, wasn’t it? What did you get up to?
- Sam: Not much really. I was feeling a bit tired, so I got up late. I reckon I’m still getting over the flu.
- Alan: You’re lucky it wasn’t swine flu.
- Sam: I know. Nowadays you're lucky if you get out of catching that horrible thing.
- Alan: So were you at home all day?
- Sam: No. I was planning to get out of the house for some fresh air. I got my clothes on and went out and as I was about to get on the bus into town Sue called telling me she was coming to pick me up.
- Alan: Ooo, is this a new date?
- Sam: Of course not! We're just friends. We get along well together.
- Alan: Strange. I can’t say that I get on with her well.
- Sam: Why not?
- Alan: She's a dragon! Haven't you seen how she gets at all of us at work? Everybody in the office wants to get rid of her!
- Sam: Really? I know sometimes it’s not easy to get through to her but she’s a very nice woman once you get past the tough exterior.
- Alan: Well, I've given up on that. When she's doing the reports next week I think I'll try and get away with a day off!
Definitions
How was it? If you're still struggling with some of the meanings, check them from the definitions below:
- get up: rise from a bed or from a sitting position
- get on: put on your clothes
- get on: enter a train/bus or mount a bike/horse
- get away with (sth): do something against the rules or illegal and not get caught or punished
- get on with (so): have a good relationship with someone
- get over (so, sth): recover from a cold/illness or from a separation from an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
- get rid of (so, sth): remove or throw something away that you don’t want to keep/avoid seeing someone you don’t want to see.
- get up to: do
- get at (so): annoy or criticise someone repeatedly
- get out of doing (sth): avoid doing something
- get out of (sth/somewhere): exit a car/a boat/an enclosed area (office/building...)
- get through to (so): make contact/explain something successfully
- get along/get along with (so): have a good relationship with someone
- get past: overcome, overtake
