2 PHRASAL VERB The way that someone gets about is the way that they walk or go from one place to another. □ [V P ] She was finding it increasingly difficult to get about.
3 PHRASAL VERB If news gets about , it becomes well known as a result of being told to lots of people. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V P ] The story had soon got about that he had been suspended.
▸ get across PHRASAL VERB When an idea gets across or when you get it across , you succeed in making other people understand it. □ [V P + to ] Officers felt their point of view was not getting across to ministers. □ [V n P ] I had created a way to get my message across while using as few words as possible. [Also V P ]
▸ get ahead PHRASAL VERB If you want to get ahead , you want to be successful in your career. □ [V P ] He wanted safety, security, a home, and a chance to get ahead.
▸ get along
1 PHRASAL VERB If you get along with someone, you have a friendly relationship with them. You can also say that two people get along . □ [V P + with ] It's impossible to get along with him. □ [V P ] They seemed to be getting along fine.
2 PHRASAL VERB Get along means the same as get by . □ [V P prep] You can't get along without water.
▸ get around in BRIT, also use get round 1 PHRASAL VERB To get around a problem or difficulty means to overcome it. □ [V P n] None of these countries has found a way yet to get around the problem.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you get around a rule or law, you find a way of doing something that the rule or law is intended to prevent, without actually breaking it. □ [V P n] Although tobacco ads are prohibited, companies get around the ban by sponsoring music shows.
3 PHRASAL VERB If news gets around , it becomes well known as a result of being told to lots of people. □ [V P that] Word is getting around that this is a great place to work. □ [V P that] I'll see that it gets round that you've arrived.
4 PHRASAL VERB If you get around someone, you persuade them to allow you to do or have something by pleasing them or flattering them. □ [V P n] Max could always get round her.
5 PHRASAL VERB If you get around , you visit a lot of different places as part of your way of life. □ [V P ] He claimed to be a journalist, and he got around.
▸ get around to in BRIT, also use get round to PHRASAL VERB When you get around to doing something that you have delayed doing or have been too busy to do, you finally do it. □ [V P P n/v-ing] I said I would write to you, but as usual I never got around to it.
▸ get at
1 PHRASAL VERB To get at something means to succeed in reaching it. □ [V P n] A goat was standing up against a tree on its hind legs, trying to get at the leaves.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you get at the truth about something, you succeed in discovering it. □ [V P n] We want to get at the truth. Who killed him? And why?
3 PHRASAL VERB [usu cont] If you ask someone what they are getting at , you are asking them to explain what they mean, usually because you think that they are being unpleasant or are suggesting something that is untrue. □ [V P ] 'What are you getting at now?' demanded Rick.
▸ get away
1 PHRASAL VERB If you get away , you succeed in leaving a place or a person's company. □ [V P + from ] She'd gladly have gone anywhere to get away from the cottage. □ [V P ] We hang out together after training - nobody's in a rush to get away.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you get away , you go away for a period of time in order to have a holiday. □ [V P ] He is too busy to get away.
3 PHRASAL VERB When someone or something gets away , or when you get them away , they escape. □ [V P ] Dr Dunn was apparently trying to get away when he was shot. □ [V n P ] I wanted to get her away to somewhere safe.
▸ get away with PHRASAL VERB If you get away with doing something wrong or risky, you do not suffer any punishment or other bad consequences because of it. □ [V P P n/v-ing] The criminals know how to play the system and get away with it.
▸ get back
1 PHRASAL VERB If someone or something gets back to a state they were in before, they are then in that state again. □ [V P + to ] Then life started to get back to normal. □ [V P + to ] I couldn't get back to sleep. [Also V P + into ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If you get back to a subject that you were talking about before, you start talking about it again. □ [V P + to/onto ] It wasn't until we had sat down to eat that we got back to the subject of Tom Halliday.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you get something back after you have lost it or after it has been taken from you, you then have it again. □ [V n P ] You have 14 days in which you can cancel the contract and get your money back. [Also V P n (not pron)]
4 PHRASAL VERB If you get back at someone or get them back , you do something unpleasant to them in order to have revenge for something unpleasant that they did to you. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P + at ] Part of me wanted to get back at him for what he 'd done. □ [V n P ] I'm going to get you back so badly you'll never to be able to show your face again.
▸ get back to PHRASAL VERB If you get back to an activity, you start doing it again after you have stopped doing it. □ [V P P n] I think I ought to get back to work.
▸ get by PHRASAL VERB If you can get by with what you have, you can manage to live or do things in a satisfactory way. □ [V P ] I'm a survivor. I'll get by. □ [V P + on ] Melville managed to get by on a small amount of money.