GET – Collocations & Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb Word Order Rules

Phrasal verbs with get fall into three types. Word order matters — especially with pronoun objects.

⚠ Note: many phrasal verbs have both separable transitive AND intransitive uses depending on meaning (e.g. get out = leave [INT] vs get the truth out [SEP]). Context is key.

get out — multiple meanings

• get out (INT) – leave a place or situation: Get out of my house!
• get out (INT) – (of a secret) become known: The news got out before we were ready.
• get out of sth (INS) – avoid a responsibility or obligation: He always gets out of doing the washing up.
• get sth out (SEP) – extract or produce something: She finally got the truth out of him.
• get sth out of sth (INS) – derive benefit or satisfaction: What do you get out of learning a language?
• get out of hand (fixed) – lose control: The situation got out of hand quickly.
• get out of your depth (fixed) – be in a situation too difficult to manage: He got out of his depth in the negotiation.

get down — multiple meanings

• get down (INT) – physically lower yourself: Get down — there's a sniper!
• get down (INT, informal) – dance / have a good time: She really knows how to get down.
• get sb down (SEP) – depress or demoralise someone: The constant rain is getting me down.
• get sth down (SEP) – write or record something: Get these figures down before you forget them.
• get sth down (SEP) – swallow something difficult: He couldn't get the tablets down.
• get down to sth (INS) – begin to focus seriously on a task: Right, let's get down to business.
• get down to the wire (fixed) – reach a deadline with little time left: The deal went right down to the wire.

get up — multiple meanings

• get up (INT) – rise from bed: I got up at six to catch the train.
• get up (INT) – stand up: She got up and left the room.
• get sb up (SEP) – wake or rouse someone: Can you get the kids up at seven?
• get sth up (SEP) – organise or put together: They got up a petition within hours.
• get up to sth (INS) – be involved in something (often mischievous): What have you been getting up to?
• get up to speed (fixed) – become fully informed or competent: It took her a week to get up to speed.
• get up someone's nose (fixed) – irritate someone intensely: His constant interruptions really get up my nose.
• get up steam (fixed) – build energy or momentum: The movement is slowly getting up steam.

get over — multiple meanings

• get over sth (INS) – recover from illness, loss or shock: It took months to get over the breakup.
• get over sth (INS) – overcome an obstacle or difficulty: We'll get over this problem somehow.
• get sth over (with) (SEP) – finish something unpleasant: Let's just get the presentation over with.
• get sth over to sb (SEP) – communicate something successfully: She struggled to get her meaning over to the board.
• can't get over sth (fixed, INT) – be astonished by something: I can't get over how much he's changed.
• get over yourself (fixed) – stop being arrogant or self-pitying: Oh, get over yourself — it wasn't that bad.

C2 Collocations with GET

• get the upper hand – gain a position of advantage over someone
• get down to business – start a meeting
• get to grips with something – begin to understand or deal with something difficult
• get a grip (on oneself) – regain self-control
• get the ball rolling – initiate a process or activity
• get cold feet – lose courage or confidence at the last moment
• get your wires crossed – misunderstand each other due to miscommunication
• get your act together – organise yourself and behave more effectively
• get carried away – become overly excited and lose judgement
• get your own back – take revenge on someone
• get the better of someone – defeat or overcome someone
• get a raw deal – receive unfair or poor treatment
• get a word in edgeways – manage to speak when others dominate conversation
• get the sack – be dismissed from a job
• get the green light – receive permission or approval to proceed
• get under someone's skin – irritate or affect someone deeply
• get a handle on something – begin to understand or control something
• get the wrong end of the stick – completely misunderstand a situation
• get off to a flying start – begin something very successfully
• get your bearings – orientate yourself in a new or unfamiliar situation

Other Phrasal Verbs with GET (C2)

• get ahead of oneself – act or think too far in advance of current events
• get around – travel widely; or become widely known (of news)
• get around to doing sth – eventually find the time to do something delayed
• get at sb – criticise or imply something indirectly
• get at sth – reach or access something; or imply a meaning
• get away with sth – escape blame or punishment for wrongdoing
• get back at sb – retaliate against someone who has wronged you
• get back to sb – contact someone again with further information
• get by – manage to survive with limited resources
• get in on sth – become involved in a profitable or interesting activity
• get into sth – become deeply interested or involved in something
• get off – escape punishment; or begin a journey
• get on – make progress; have a good relationship with someone
• get onto sb – contact someone to deal with a matter
• get out of bed on the wrong side – start the day in a bad mood
• get round sb – persuade someone by flattery or charm
• get round to sth – find time to do something after delay
• get through (to sb) – make contact; or succeed in being understood
• get through sth – survive or complete a difficult experience
• get together – meet informally; or organise a plan
• get with it – become aware of current trends or a situation