English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - G, page 2
from: 'get down to brass tacks'
to: 'get off the hook'
- get down to brass tacks
- When people get down to brass tacks, they start to discuss the essential aspects of a problem or situation.
"The situation was so serious that after a few polite exchanges they quickly got down to brass tacks."
- When people get down to brass tacks, they start to discuss the essential aspects of a problem or situation.
- get down to business
- If someone says "It's time to get down to business", they mean that it is time to end the small talk and start discussing
serious topics related to business.
"It was such a match - we could talk about it all day, but it's time to get down to business!"
- If someone says "It's time to get down to business", they mean that it is time to end the small talk and start discussing
serious topics related to business.
- get it down to a fine art
- When, through practice or experience, you learn to do something perfectly, you get it down to a fine art.
"Entertaining her husband's business associates is not a problem for Jane; she's got it down to a fine art!"
- When, through practice or experience, you learn to do something perfectly, you get it down to a fine art.
- get down to the nitty-gritty
- When people get down to the nitty-gritty, they begin to discuss the most important points or the practical details.
"I was interested in the project, but we didn't get down to the nitty-gritty until his partner arrived."
- When people get down to the nitty-gritty, they begin to discuss the most important points or the practical details.
- get your ducks in a row
- If you get your ducks in a row, you get things well organised.
"We need to get our ducks in a row if we want our project to succeed."
- If you get your ducks in a row, you get things well organised.
- get your feet wet
- If you get your feet wet, you start to do something new or unfamiliar or
explore new territory for the first time.
"It will be a totally new experience for me but I can't wait to get my feet wet!"
- If you get your feet wet, you start to do something new or unfamiliar or
explore new territory for the first time.
- get your fingers burnt
- If someone gets their fingers burnt, they suffer
as a result of an unsuccessful action and are nervous about trying again.
"He got his fingers burnt so badly in the last elections that he decided to withdraw from politics."
- If someone gets their fingers burnt, they suffer
as a result of an unsuccessful action and are nervous about trying again.
- get a foothold
- If you get a foothold somewhere, you secure a position for yourself in a business,
profession or organisation.
"The contract enabled the company to get a foothold in the local administration."
- If you get a foothold somewhere, you secure a position for yourself in a business,
profession or organisation.
- get a frosty reception
- If you get a frosty reception from someone, that person is unfriendly, not happy to see you
or not interested in what you have to say, usually because of something that happened previously.
"After complaining about their lack of cooperation, Jason got a frosty reception from his colleagues."
- If you get a frosty reception from someone, that person is unfriendly, not happy to see you
or not interested in what you have to say, usually because of something that happened previously.
- get into gear
- When a person or activity gets (or cranks) into gear, they start to work or become effective.
"Immediately after the announcement, a group of protesters got into gear.
- When a person or activity gets (or cranks) into gear, they start to work or become effective.
- get out of hand
- If a person or situation gets out of hand, they cannot be controlled any longer.
"During the student demonstration, things got out of hand and several shop windows were broken."
- If a person or situation gets out of hand, they cannot be controlled any longer.
- get your hands dirty
- If you get your hands dirty in your job, you become
involved in all aspects of it, including work that is physical, unpleasant or less interesting.
"His willingness to get his hands dirty won the respect and approval of the whole team."
- If you get your hands dirty in your job, you become
involved in all aspects of it, including work that is physical, unpleasant or less interesting.
- get hold of
- If you obtain something, or manage to contact someone, you get hold of them.
"I'd like to contact the owner. Do you know where I can get hold of him?"
- If you obtain something, or manage to contact someone, you get hold of them.
- get into the habit
- If you get into the habit of doing something, or
make a habit of it, you do it in a regular or repeated way.
"I got into the habit of walking everywhere. I rarely use the car now."
- If you get into the habit of doing something, or
make a habit of it, you do it in a regular or repeated way.
- get a kick out of something
- If you get a kick out of something, you get great enjoyment
or a feeling of excitement from something.
"Tania is a bit strange - she gets a kick out of listening to other people's phone messages!"
- If you get a kick out of something, you get great enjoyment
or a feeling of excitement from something.
- get/give the low-down
- If you get or give the low-down,
you get or give complete information or facts about something.
"I'll call you after the meeting and give you the low-down."
- If you get or give the low-down,
you get or give complete information or facts about something.
- get the message
- When you get the message, you understand what
someone is trying to tell you even if it is not stated clearly.
"Next time he asks you to replace him, tell him you've got an important appointment - he'll get the message."
- When you get the message, you understand what
someone is trying to tell you even if it is not stated clearly.
- get off my back!
- If you tell someone to get off your back,
you are annoyed and ask them to stop finding faults or criticizing you.
"Get off my back Liz! You've been making comments about my work all day!"
- If you tell someone to get off your back,
you are annoyed and ask them to stop finding faults or criticizing you.
- get off the ground
- If you get something off the ground,you put it into operation after having organised it.
"After a lot of hard work, we finally got the campaign off the ground."
- If you get something off the ground,you put it into operation after having organised it.
- get off the hook
- If you do something wrong and manage to get off the hook, you avoid punishment or blame.
"Barry was questioned by the police but his lawyer managed to get him off the hook."
- If you do something wrong and manage to get off the hook, you avoid punishment or blame.
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