The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  get goose pimples → See GOOSE PIMPLES.

  get gray hair from Be very worried or upset by. For example, I know I’m going to get gray hair from his driving. Similarly, give gray hair to means “to worry someone,” as in The boy’s love of rock climbing gave his parents gray hair. This idiom alludes to the notion that extreme anxiety or grief can cause one’s hair to turn gray. [Early 1600s]

  get hold of Grasp, obtain; also, get in touch with. For example, If you can just get hold of one end, I’ll get the other, or Jane had no luck getting hold of the book she needed, or I’ve phoned a dozen times but I can’t seem to get hold of him. [c. 1300] Also see LAY HOLD OF.

  get in 1. Enter a place, as in We managed to get in just before the doors closed. [First half of 1500s] 2. Arrive, as in We got in late last night. [Early 1600s] 3. Be elected to office or become accepted, as in a club. For example, Marge asked the club if she could get in. The variant get into takes an object, as in Things changed after he got into office. [Late 1500s] 4. Succeed in including, delivering, or finishing something, as in Can you get in that last paragraph? or I hope you’ll get it in on time. Also see GET IN WITH.

  get in a snit → See IN A SNIT.

  get in a stew → See IN A STEW.

  get in bad with Also, get in good with. → See IN BAD WITH; IN GOOD WITH.

  get in on → see IN ON. Also see GET INTO THE ACT; (GET IN ON THE) GROUND FLOOR.

  get in someone’s face → See IN SOMEONE’S FACE.

  get in someone’s hair → See IN SOMEONE’S HAIR.

  get in the way → See IN THE WAY.

  get into 1. Become involved in, as in He got into trouble by stealing cars, or I don’t want to get into the long history of this problem. [Early 1700S] 2. Put on clothes, as in Wait till I get into my suit. [Late 1600s] 3. Take possession of one, cause to act differently or inappropriately, as in You’re leaving it to the animal shelter? What has got into you? or I don’t know what gets into you children. [Late 1800s] 4. See BE INTO. Also see subsequent entries beginning with GET INTO.

  get into bed with → See GO TO BED WITH.

  get into hot water → See HOT WATER.

  get into one’s head Also, get or take it into one’s head. From an impression, idea, or plan. For example, What strange idea has she got into her head? or He took it into his head that you want to quit. [Late 1600s] Also see GET THROUGH ONE’S HEAD.

  get into the act Also, get in the act. Become involved in some activity or venture, as in Everybody wants to get into the act on this offer, or I’m sure his agent plans to get in the act and start negotiations. This expression alludes to inserting oneself into a performance. [Mid-1900s]

  get into the swing of things Become active, make progress. For example, She only started work last week, but she quickly got into the swing of things. [Late 1800s]

  get into trouble → See IN TROUBLE WITH.

  get in touch → See IN TOUCH.

  get involved Become associated, especially in an emotional or sexual way. For example, He joined the company last year but never really got involved in the work, or It’s been two years since Tom got involved with Jean.

  get in with Become involved or associated with, as in She got in with the right crowd, or These loans got me in deeper and deeper with the bank. [Late 1600s]

  get it 1. See CATCH IT. 2. Understand something, as in He claims his plan is reasonable, but I’m not sure I get it. This synonym for CATCH ON was popularized during the 1980s through a televised political debate in which presidential nominee Ronald Reagan told his opponent, You just don’t get it, do you? This particular phrase has since been repeated in numerous contexts where one is expressing exasperation at someone’s failure to understand something. The phrase is also put in the past tense, got it, meaning “understood.” For example, We’re leaving tomorrow.—OK, got it. [Colloquial; late 1800s] Also see GET THE MESSAGE.

  get it on 1. Become filled with energy or excitement; enthusiastically begin. For example, If you’re ready to start rehearsing, let’s get it on. [Slang; c. 1950] 2. Engage in sexual intercourse, as in They were about to get it on when the doorbell rang. [Slang; 1970s]

  get lost Go away, as in Get lost, we don’t want you around. This rather rude slangy imperative dates from the 1940s.

  get mileage out of Make use of, obtain service from, as in The chorus got a lot of mileage out of that publicity, or You won’t get much mileage out of that old TV set. This expression alludes to the number of miles of travel yielded by a given amount of fuel, a tire, or other auto equipment. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

  get nowhere Also, not get anywhere. Make no progress, as in I’ve tried to put this together, but I’m getting nowhere with it. This expression is sometimes intensified as get nowhere fast, as in I tried phoning but got nowhere fast. [Early 1900s] Also see GET SOMEWHERE; GET THERE.

  get off 1. Dismount, leave a vehicle, as in She got off the horse right away, or Let’s get off the train at the next stop. [Late 1600s] 2. Start, as on a trip; leave. For example, We got off at the crack of dawn. [Mid-1700s] 3. Fire a round of ammunition; also, send away. For example, He got off two shots, but the deer fled, or I got off that letter just in time. 4. Escape from punishment; also, obtain a lesser penalty or release for someone. For example, He apologized so profusely that he was sure to get off, or The attorney got her client off with a slap on the wrist. This sense is sometimes amplified to get off easy or get off lightly. Where there is no punishment at all, the expression is sometimes put as get off scot-free, originally meaning “be free from paying a fine or tax (scot),” dating from the 1500s. [Mid-1600s] 5. Remove, take off, as in I can’t seem to get this paint off the car. [Second half of 1600s] 6. Succeed in uttering, especially a joke. For example, Carl always manages to get off a good one before he gets serious. [Mid-1800s] 7. Have the effrontery to do or say something. For example, Where does he get off telling me what to do? [Colloquial; early 1900s] 8. Experience orgasm, as in She never did get off. [Slang; first half of 1900s] 9. Also, get off of one. Stop bothering or criticizing one, as in Get off me right now! or If you don’t get off of me I’m walking out. [Slang; c. 1940] Also see GET OFF ON; OFF SOMEONE’S BACK.

  get off on 1. Feel the effects of or take a mind-­altering drug. For example, He was getting off on crack. [Slang; 1930s] 2. Enjoy, derive intense pleasure from, as in I really get off on good jazz. [Slang; c. 1970]

  get off one’s chest → See OFF ONE’S CHEST.

  get off one’s tail Also, get off one’s butt. Stop loafing and start doing something. For example, Get off your tail and help your mother, or I should get off my butt, but I’m exhausted. Neither slangy expression, with its allusion to the buttocks, is considered polite.

  get off on the wrong foot → See under ON THE RIGHT FOOT.

  get off scot-free → See GET OFF, def. 4.

  get off someone’s back → See OFF SOMEONE’S BACK.

  get off the dime Take action, especially following a time of indecision or delay. For example, It’s time this administration got off the dime and came up with a viable budget. This expression originated in the 1920s in dancehalls as an imperative for dancers to get moving. By 1926 it had been extended to other activities.

  get off the ground Make a start, get underway, as in Because of legal difficulties, the construction project never got off the ground. This expression, alluding to flight, dates from the mid-1900s. The similar-sounding get off to a flying start, meaning “make a successful start,” alludes not to flight but to a quick start in a race, a usage from the late 1800s. For example, He’s off to a flying start with his dissertation.

  get off the hook → See OFF THE HOOK.

  get on 1. Also, get upon. Climb on, mount. For example, They say one should get back on a horse as soon as one’s fallen off. [Early 1600s] 2. See GET ALONG, def. 1. 3. See GET ALONG, def. 2. 4. See GET ALONG, def. 4. Also see ALONG IN YEARS. 5. get on in the world or company, etc. Prosper or succeed, as in Her inheritance has helped her get on in society, or
Dad asked if Bill was getting on in the company. [Early 1800s] 6. get on with it. Move ahead, pursue one’s work. For example, We’ve spent enough time talking about it; now let’s get on with it. [Early 1800s] 7. get on for. Advance toward an age, amount, time, and so on. For example, It’s getting on for noon, so we’d better eat lunch. This usage is often put in the participial form, getting on for. [Mid-1800] 8. See TURN ON, def. 3. Also see the subsequent entries beginning with GET ON.

  get one’s → In addition to the idioms beginning with GET ONE’S, also see GET SOMEONE’S.

  get one’s 1. Get one’s due punishment or reward, as in If they put off their schoolwork to go to the ball game, sooner or later they’ll get theirs, or The union members were prepared to go on strike; they were determined to get theirs. The punishment version is earlier, dating from about 1900. 2. Be killed, as in “He’d got his. I knew it by the way his head rolled in my hands” (Rudyard Kipling, Diversity of Creatures, 1913). This usage originated in the military. [c. 1900]

  get one’s act together Also, get one’s shit or it all together. Start to behave more appropriately or effectively; get organized. For example, Once Joe gets his act together he’ll get a raise, or You’d better get it all together before the boss comes back. The variant using shit is considered vulgar. [Slang; second half of 1900s] Also see GET ONE’S DUCKS IN A ROW.

  get one’s back up → See GET SOMEONE’S BACK UP.

  get one’s bearings Also, find one’s bearings. Figure out one’s position or situation relative to one’s surroundings. For example, She’s still new to the company and needs time to find her bearings, or I’ll be along soon; just wait till I get my bearings. Naturally, one can also lose one’s bearings, as in After we missed the turnpike exit, we completely lost our bearings. These phrases use bearings in the sense of “relative position,” a usage dating from the 1600s.

  get one’s comeuppance Receive the treatment one deserves, especially punishment or retribution. For example, She behaved badly, but I’m sure she’ll get her comeuppance soon. The exact relationship of comeuppance to the verb come up in its common senses—“rise” and “present itself”—is no longer clear. [Mid-1800s]

  get one’s ducks in a row Also, have one’s ducks in a row. Complete one’s preparations, become efficient and well organized, as in I’m trying to get my ducks in a row before I go to Europe. This synonym for GET ONE’S ACT TOGETHER probably alludes to lining up target ducks in a shooting gallery. [Slang; 1970s]

  get one’s feet on the ground Also, have or keep one’s feet on the ground. → See BOTH FEET ON THE GROUND.

  get one’s feet wet Embark on a new venture, start into new territory. For example, I’ve only had a few cello lessons—I’ve barely gotten my feet wet. This expression alludes to the timid swimmer slowly getting into the water. [Late 1500s]

  get one’s fill Also, have one’s fill. Be satisfied; have enough (or more than enough) of something. For example, I love opera—I can never get my fill of it, or He’s had his fill of dirty jobs. This expression alludes to having enough (or too much) to eat. [Mid-1500s] Also see FED TO THE GILLS.

  get one’s hands dirty → See DIRTY ONE’S HANDS.

  get one’s hands on → See LAY HANDS ON.

  get one’s head examined, one should. Also, have one’s head examined. One is crazy or absolutely wrong. For example, You like this food? Go get your head examined, or If you believe that story, you should have your head examined. This hyperbolic and usually jocular expression of disagreement may, thought Eric Partridge, allude to the now discredited field of phrenology, which holds that the configurations of the skull reveal mental and emotional characteristics. [Early 1900s]

  get one’s money’s worth Receive good value, as in They performed four extra songs, so we really got our money’s worth, or We got our money’s worth at the beach—there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. This expression often but not always refers to a monetary expenditure.

  get one’s own back → See GET BACK AT.

  get one’s teeth into → See SINK ONE’S TEETH INTO.

  get one’s walking papers → See WALKING PAPERS.

  get one’s way Also, get or have one’s own way. Be allowed to or make others do as one wishes. For example, Two-year-olds often scream until they get their own way, or All right, I give in—have it your own way. [Late 1500s]

  get one’s wires crossed Also, have one’s wires crossed. Become or be confused or mistaken about something, as in If you think there’s a meeting today, you really have your wires crossed; it’s not till next month. This expression transfers a wrongly wired telephone or telegraph connection to human misunderstanding. [Colloquial; early 1900s]

  get on someone’s good side Win someone’s approval or support, as in Kate offered to walk the dog in order to get on her aunt’s good side. [c. 1930] Also see IN GOOD WITH.

  get on someone’s nerves Irritate someone, as in His fidgeting gets on the teacher’s nerves, or, as T.S. Eliot put it in The Elder Statesman (1959): “How it used to get on my nerves, when I saw you always sitting there with your nose in a book.” [c. 1900]

  get on the bandwagon → See ON THE BANDWAGON.

  get on the stick Start working, as in I have to get on the stick and start preparing dinner. This synonym for GET GOING or GET BUSY alludes to getting a car going by manipulating the gearshift, or stick. [Slang; early 1900s]

  get on with it → See GET ON, def. 6.

  get out 1. Leave, escape, as in With good conduct he’ll get out of prison in a few months, or In case of a fire, we just want to get out alive. [c. 1300] This phrase is also used as an imperative, ordering someone to depart. For example, Get out! You’ve no business being in here. [c. 1700] Also see GET OUT OF, def. 1. 2. Become known, as in Somehow the secret got out. [Late 1800s] Also see OUT IN THE OPEN. 3. get something out. Publish something, as in Once we get out the newsletter, we can concentrate on other projects. [Late 1700s] 4. Produce a sound, as in The singer had a sore throat and could hardly get out a note. [First half of 1800s] Also see the subsequent idioms beginning with GET OUT.

  get out from under → See OUT FROM UNDER.

  get out of 1. Emerge or escape from, as in I hate to get out of bed on cold mornings, or He’ll be lucky to get out of this mess. [First half of 1500s] Also see GET OUT, def. 1. 2. Go beyond, as in The cat had climbed into the tree; she’d gotten well out of my reach. [First half of 1600s] Also see OUT OF CONTROL; OUT OF SIGHT. 3. Evade or avoid, as in He tried to get out of answering their questions, or Please get out of the way so we can pass. [Late 1800s] Also see OUT OF THE WAY. 4. Elicit or draw out something from someone. For example, I can’t get a straight answer out of him, or Getting a contribution out of her is like pulling teeth. [First half of 1600s] 5. Get rid of something, remove, as in Get these cats out of the house, or I can’t get this melody out of my head. Also see OUT OF ONE’S SYSTEM. 6. Extract from, obtain from. For example, You can get a lot of juice out of these oranges, or She got little or nothing out of this investment. It is also put as get the most out of, meaning “use to the greatest advantage,” as in He gets the most out of his staff. [Second half of 1600s] Also see GET A BANG OUT OF; GET A RISE OUT OF; GET MILEAGE OUT OF.

  get out of one’s face → See under IN SOMEONE’S FACE, def. 2.

  get out of one’s system → See OUT OF ONE’S ­SYSTEM.

  get out of someone’s sight → See OUT OF SIGHT, def. 1.

  get out of the way → See OUT OF THE WAY.

  get out while the getting is good Leave while one can or has the chance to, as in He just had a good offer from a rival firm and decided to get out while the getting is good. This colloquial phrase uses GET OUT in the sense of “escape” or “depart.”

  get over 1. Overcome, surmount, as in We have ­finally gotten over our biases. [Late 1600s] 2. Recover from, as in I just got over the flu, or I hope the children get over their parents’ divorce quickly. ­[c. 1700] This usage sometimes appears as get over it, as on a bumper sticker following the 1
992 presidential election: “Bush Lost, Get Over It.” 3. Also, get over with. Complete, have done with, especially something unpleasant. For example, When I finally got the proofreading over, I was ready for a day off, or I’m glad to get all that dental work over with. It also is put as get it over with, as in I might as well sign the check and get it over with. The first usage dates from the late 1800s, the second from the early 1800s.

  get physical Make physical contact, either forcefully or sexually. For example, Stop pushing—there’s no need to get physical, or Thirteen is too young to get physical in that way. [Slang; second half of 1900s]

  get ready Also, make ready. Become prepared or make preparations for something. For example, It’ll take me another hour to get ready for the painter, or Jane promised to make the room ready for our guests. [Late 1500s] Also see GET SET.

  get real Be realistic, understand what’s going on, as in You think you’ll win the lottery if you buy one ticket a week? Get real! [Slang; second half of 1900s]

  get religion Be converted; also, decide to behave in an upright, ethical way. For example, After the children were born, John got religion and joined the church, or After years of total selfishness, she suddenly got religion and is doing all kinds of volunteer work. [Second half of 1700s]

  get rid of Also, be rid of. Eliminate, discard, or free oneself from. For example, It’s time we got rid of these old newspapers, or He kept calling for months, but now we’re finally rid of him. The first expression dates from the mid-1600s, the second from the 1400s. Also see GET OUT OF, def. 5.

  get right Understand accurately or do correctly, as in If I get it right, you’re not leaving until tomorrow, or The faucet works perfectly; the plumber finally got it right. [First half of 1900s]

  get rolling → See GET A MOVE ON.

  get round → See GET AROUND, def. 1 and 2.

  get set Prepare to go, as in Get set; the taxi’s coming. This phrase is also a synonym for GET READY. Also see under ALL SET.

  get sick 1. Also, take sick or ill. Become ill, as in It’s just my luck to get sick on vacation, or When was she taken ill? [Ninth century] 2. Become disgusted, as in We got sick as we learned how much money was wasted, or I get sick when I hear about his debts. [Early 1500s] Also see MAKE ONE SICK. 3. Also, get sick to one’s stomach; be sick. Become nauseated, vomit, as in If you eat any more candy you’ll get sick, or Sick to her stomach every morning? She must be pregnant. [Early 1600s]