INDEX:
1. to get something by buying it, asking for it, or finding it
2. to be given something
3. to succeed in getting something, especially something that is difficult to get
4. to get a letter/phone call/message
5. to get a score, grade etc in a game, test etc
6. to get more of something over a long period of time
7. someone who expects to get something without doing anything to earn it
8. to get a large number of things from several different places or people
9. to get so many things to do that you cannot deal with them
10. to get something from someone by using force or threats
11. to get back something that you had before
12. to not get something that you could get
RELATED WORDS
to get an illness : ↑ ILLNESS/DISEASE
see also
↑ HAVE/NOT HAVE
↑ OWN
↑ AVAILABLE/NOT AVAILABLE
↑ BUY
↑ EARN
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1. to get something by buying it, asking for it, or finding it
▷ get /get/ [transitive verb not in passive]
▪ I don’t feel like cooking -- let’s go get a pizza.
▪ I still haven’t gotten a birthday present for Sherri.
get something from somebody/something
▪ I got a really nice coat from Hudson’s.
▪ We had to get permission from the landlord before painting the apartment.
get a job
▪ Did you hear? Stuart got a new job.
▷ obtain /əbˈteɪn/ [transitive verb] formal
to get something :
▪ Maps and guides can be obtained at the tourist office.
obtain something from somebody/something
▪ Scientists in Brazil are obtaining medicines from plants.
▷ find /faɪnd/ [transitive verb]
to get the money, time, energy etc that you need to do something :
▪ If I can find the money, I’ll come to the theatre with you.
▪ I haven’t found the time to read Morrison’s latest novel yet.
▷ acquire /əˈkwaɪəʳ/ [transitive verb] formal
to get something very big or expensive, or to get more knowledge or skills :
▪ It took him a long time to acquire the skills he needed to become a professional artist.
▪ The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has recently acquired several paintings by Salvador Dali.
2. to be given something
▷ get /get/ [transitive verb not in passive]
to be given something without having to ask for it or pay for it :
▪ What did you get for your birthday?
▪ You get a free CD with this magazine.
get something from somebody
▪ Here’s the card I got from Jane.
▷ receive /rɪˈsiːv/ [transitive verb] formal
to be given something, especially officially :
▪ Did Caroline receive an invitation?
▪ You will receive your credit card in approximately two weeks.
receive something from somebody/something
▪ She received an honorary degree from Harvard in 1990.
▷ be given /biː ˈgɪv ə n/ [verb phrase]
to be given something, especially by someone in authority :
▪ He was given a ten-year jail sentence.
▪ Why shouldn’t disabled people be given the chance to compete in the Games?
▪ Sarah was given the opportunity to study at the Cooper Union School of Art.
▷ be awarded /biː əˈwɔːʳdə̇d/ [verb phrase]
to be given a prize, especially by an important organization, for something that you have achieved :
▪ The restaurant was awarded four stars in the ‘Good Food Guide’.
▪ Yasunari Kawabata was the first Japanese writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize for literature.
▷ inherit /ɪnˈherɪt, ɪnˈherət/ [transitive verb]
to be given someone’s money or property after they die :
▪ Who will inherit the house when he dies?
▪ The ten richest women in the UK all inherited their wealth.
inherit something from somebody
▪ She inherited the money from her mother.
3. to succeed in getting something, especially something that is difficult to get
▷ get /get/ [transitive verb not in passive]
▪ Getting the money for the house wasn’t easy.
▪ If I get first prize it’ll be a miracle.
▷ get hold of /ˌget ˈhəʊld ɒv/ [verb phrase] informal
to get something that is rare or difficult to find :
▪ Do you know where I can get hold of a German--Japanese dictionary?
▪ These kids have very little difficulty getting hold of illegal weapons.
▷ get/lay your hands on /ˌget, ˌleɪ jɔːʳ ˈhændz ɒn/ [verb phrase] informal
to get something that you want or need very much, or have been trying hard to get :
▪ I bet he can’t wait to lay his hands on all that money.
▪ When Ted was a kid, he read every book about space that he could get his hands on.
▷ land /lænd/ [transitive verb]
land a job/contract/interview etc
to get a job etc that was difficult to get - use this especially when someone was very lucky to do this :
▪ A French company has landed a contract to supply computers to China.
land yourself something
British
▪ He’s managed to land himself an amazing job in advertising.
▷ win /wɪn/ [transitive verb]
win somebody’s support/trust/confidence etc
to get someone’s support, trust etc, especially by working hard to achieve this :
▪ It will take time to win her trust.
▪ Gandhi won the support of many liberals in England.
▷ clinch /klɪntʃ/ [transitive verb]
clinch a deal/contract/championship etc
to finally succeed in making a deal, winning a contract etc after trying very hard :
▪ We finally clinched the contract by offering them a lower price.
▪ Mitchell phoned from Chicago to say that he was close to clinching the deal.
▪ Germany scored twice in the last ten minutes to clinch the championship.
▷ wangle /ˈwæŋg ə l/ [transitive verb] informal
to get something, especially something that is difficult to get, by using clever and often slightly dishonest methods :
▪ ‘They’re sending me to Paris next weekend.’ ‘How did you manage to wangle that?’
wangle it so that
▪ Gail has wangled it so that we can get in without tickets.
▷ secure /sɪˈkjʊəʳ/ [transitive verb] formal
to succeed in getting official permission for or agreement about something, especially when this was difficult :
▪ France was able to secure the release of two of its hostages.
▪ Schiller secured funds for the special education project.
4. to get a letter/phone call/message
▷ get /get/ [transitive verb not in passive]
▪ Did you get my message?
get something from somebody
▪ We get so many calls from salespeople.
▪ I got an e-mail from a friend who lives in Bangkok.
▷ receive /rɪˈsiːv/ [transitive verb not in passive] formal
to get a letter, phone call, or message :
▪ I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier, but I’ve only just received your message.
▪ We received your letter the 1st of March.
receive something from somebody
▪ He says he never received the fax from us.
▷ come in /ˌkʌm ˈɪn/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
if telephone calls, messages, letters etc come in, they arrive at a place where people are waiting for them :
▪ Reports are coming in of an explosion in the centre of Paris.
▪ Several calls have come in from people who think they can identify the two men.
▷ pour/flood in /ˌpɔːʳ, ˌflʌd ˈɪn/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
if letters, calls, messages etc pour in or flood in, a very large number of them are received :
▪ Letters of support have been pouring in since we began our appeal.
▪ According to reports, contributions to Roe’s campaign are flooding in.
▷ on/upon receipt of /ɒn, əˌpɒn rɪˈsiːt ɒv/ [preposition] formal
if someone does something on receipt of a letter, sum of money etc, they do it when they receive it - used especially in official letters, instructions etc :
▪ Upon receipt of a complaint, the department will investigate the problem and, if necessary, take appropriate measures.
▪ The Department of Social Security can only issue benefits on receipt of your claim form.
5. to get a score, grade etc in a game, test etc
▷ get /get/ [transitive verb not in passive]
to get a particular result in a test or examination :
▪ I only got 35% in my history test.
▪ Pam’s really smart. She got straight A’s in high school.
▷ score /skɔːʳ/ [transitive verb]
to get a particular number of points in a sports game, or in a test or examination :
▪ The test was difficult, and no-one scored more than 45 points.
▪ AC Milan scored a record number of goals this season.
▷ make /meɪk/ [transitive verb] American
to get a particular grade in a text or for a piece of work at school :
▪ I made an A on the test today.
▪ Allison’s going to Auburn University? She must have made good grades in high school.
6. to get more of something over a long period of time
▷ accumulate /əˈkjuːmjɑleɪt/ [transitive verb]
to gradually get more and more money, possessions, knowledge etc over a period of time :
▪ Watkins said he has accumulated more than $100,000 in legal bills.
▪ By the late 1950s scientists had already accumulated enough evidence to show a clear link between smoking and cancer.
▪ I just don’t know how we’ve managed to accumulate so much junk!
▷ amass /əˈmæs/ [transitive verb]
to gradually collect a very large amount of something such as money or properly :
▪ The Lewins amassed their art collection over more than 40 years.
▪ Over the years he had amassed an absolute fortune.
▷ gain /geɪn/ [transitive verb] formal
to gradually get more of a useful skill or a good quality :
▪ It took her a long time to gain enough confidence to speak in public.
▪ She stayed in the job for five years, gaining valuable experience.
▪ His ideas are gaining a lot of support.
7. someone who expects to get something without doing anything to earn it
▷ parasite /ˈpærəsaɪt/ [countable noun]
someone who does not work, but still expects society to provide them with money, food, a home etc :
▪ You shouldn’t feel sorry for these people - they’re just parasites.
▪ Most government employees had become parasites, expecting to retain their positions through friendship or political favor.
▷ freeloader /ˈfriːləʊdəʳ/ [countable noun]
someone who regularly takes money from another person, from the government, etc with no intention of doing anything to earn it or change the situation :
▪ Ms. Louis’ attorney characterized her ex-husband as a freeloader, looking for the easy life.
▪ The freeloaders are leaving a bad impression on the public, making it hard for those who genuinely need the government’s help.
▷ scrounger /ˈskraʊndʒəʳ/ [countable noun] British
someone who always expects other people to give them money, food etc, especially because they are too lazy to earn money or get things for themselves :
▪ You’re such a scrounger - buy your own cigarettes!
▪ Far from being ‘scroungers’, unemployed people are usually desperate to earn money for themselves.
8. to get a large number of things from several different places or people
▷ collect /kəˈlekt/ [transitive verb]
to get things of the same type from different places and bring them together :
▪ I’ve been collecting samples of the different types of rock which occur in this area.
▪ Historians are skilled in collecting facts and interpreting them.
▪ Organizers have already collected 650 signatures.
▷ gather /ˈgæðəʳ/ [transitive verb]
to search for and get things of the same type from different places :
▪ Many of the plants in the gardens were gathered on trips to Japan and China.
▪ Some of the men gathered firewood while others made a fire.
▪ Computers make it far easier to gather information.
▷ assemble /əˈsemb ə l/ [transitive verb]
to get and put together something such as proof or information in an organized way :
▪ We will let you have the report as soon as we have assembled all the data.
▪ When all the evidence is assembled, it will be clear that Michael is innocent.
9. to get so many things to do that you cannot deal with them
▷ be swamped with /biː ˈswɒmpt wɪð/ [verb phrase]
▪ Susan is always swamped with work this time of year.
▪ Since we started the advice service we have been swamped with requests from people who need help.
▷ be inundated with /biː ˈɪnəndeɪtə̇d wɪð/ [verb phrase]
to get so many telephone calls, offers, answers etc after a statement or request has been made, that it is difficult to deal with them all :
▪ Cameron claims he has been inundated with film offers.
▪ Our Houston office has been inundated with calls in the last few days.
10. to get something from someone by using force or threats
▷ get something out of/squeeze something out of /ˌget something ˈaʊt əv somebody, ˌskwiːz something ˈaʊt əv somebody/ [transitive phrasal verb] informal
to make someone give you something such as money or information by persuading them, tricking them, or threatening them :
▪ They won’t stop till they’ve succeeded in squeezing every last penny out of you.
▪ The police did everything they could to get the name of his accomplice out of him, but he wouldn’t talk.
▷ extort /ɪkˈstɔːʳt/ [transitive verb]
to illegally force someone to give you money by frightening or threatening them :
▪ The terrorist groups have been extorting hundreds of millions of dollars.
extort money from/out of somebody
▪ The Mafia makes most of its money from prostitution and extorting money from small businesses.
extortion /ɪkˈstɔːʳʃ ə n/ [uncountable noun]
▪ Barratt is charged with extortion and murder.
11. to get back something that you had before
▷ get something back /ˌget something ˈbæk/ [transitive phrasal verb not in passive]
to get back something that you had before, especially something that belongs to you :
▪ Susanna has my lecture notes - I won’t be able to get them back until Monday.
get sth back from
▪ I need to get the tape recorder back from her.
▷ regain /rɪˈgeɪn/ [transitive verb]
to get back an ability or quality that you have lost, for example your authority or confidence :
regain power/control
▪ Republicans hope to regain control of the House of Representatives.
▪ The army is struggling to regain control over the southern part of the country.
regain your confidence/faith/trust etc
▪ I don’t know if I can ever regain my faith in him after what he’s done.
regain your strength
become healthy and strong again
▪ Bill spent two weeks in the hospital regaining his strength after the operation.
▷ recover /rɪˈkʌvəʳ/ [transitive verb]
to get back something such as an ability that you have lost, or something that has been stolen from you :
▪ The bank is planning to sue the company in order to try and recover it’s money.
▪ It took the rest of the winter for her to recover her health.
recovery [uncountable noun]
when something is recovered :
▪ The book tells the story of the recovery of a stolen bomb by American agents.
▷ retrieve /rɪˈtriːv/ [transitive verb] formal
to get back something after you have put it somewhere :
▪ I had left my bag at the railroad station and went back to retrieve it.
retrieve something from
▪ She bent down and retrieved the map from under the car seat.
▪ If you want to retrieve a file from the computer, press FIND and then enter the name of the file you want.
retrieval [uncountable noun]
▪ The information is stored on disc for easy retrieval so that it can be retrieved easily .
▷ recoup /rɪˈkuːp/ [transitive verb]
to get back money or profits that you have spent or lost :
recoup your losses
▪ She put $50 on the next race in an attempt to recoup her losses.
recoup something from somebody
▪ The dentist gives treatment for free and then recoups the cost from the government.
▷ reclaim /rɪˈkleɪm/ [transitive verb]
to get back something that belongs to you that someone else has taken or that you have let them have :
▪ You can reclaim tax if you find you have paid too much.
▪ A British woman is waiting to hear how she can reclaim a family estate inside the former Soviet Union.
reclaim something from
▪ China reclaimed Hong Kong from Britain in 1997.
▷ win back /ˌwɪn ˈbæk/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to succeed in getting someone or something back by trying hard :
win back somebody/something
▪ The airlines are trying to win back passengers by offering special low fares at certain times.
▪ Debra sued the company and won back her job and $144,000 in damages.
win somebody/something back
▪ Jack could see no way of winning his wife back.
12. to not get something that you could get
▷ lose out /ˌluːz ˈaʊt/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
to not get something such as a job, contract etc because it is given to someone else instead :
▪ It’s simple -- unless you make an effort you’re going to lose out.
lose out to
▪ In the end we lost out to a French company because they could do the job cheaper.
lose out on
▪ Time and time again, women seem to lose out on promotions and career opportunities.
▷ miss out /ˌmɪs ˈaʊt/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
to not get something or be able to enjoy something because you are not in the right place to do this :
▪ Where were you last night? You missed out.
miss out on
▪ She was so busy studying at university that she missed out on all the fun.
▪ Get to the sales early to avoid missing out on all the best bargains.
▷ pass somebody by /ˌpɑːs somebody ˈbaɪǁˌpæs-/ [transitive phrasal verb not in passive]
if a chance or enjoyable experience passes you by, you do not get it because you do not make an effort or pay enough attention to it :
▪ Sometimes I feel that all the best things in life are passing me by.
▪ Seize opportunities while you can -- don’t let them pass you by.
▪ He ended up a bitter old man who felt that life had somehow passed him by.