get at
Medium-High (common phrasal verb)Informal to Neutral; can be informal/colloquial when meaning 'criticise'.
Definition
Meaning
to reach, access, or manage to touch something; to imply or suggest something indirectly; to criticise someone repeatedly.
Can mean to try to make someone understand something, often through repeated hints or criticism; informally, to bribe or corrupt someone; to begin working on a task.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly idiomatic and context-dependent. The meaning shifts significantly based on the object (thing vs. person) and context (literal vs. figurative).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in British English, especially in the sense of 'criticise' or 'nag'. In American English, 'get at' meaning 'imply' is common, but 'pick on' or 'harp on' might be more frequent for persistent criticism.
Connotations
In the 'criticise' sense, British usage often carries a connotation of nagging or persistent, unfair fault-finding.
Frequency
Overall frequency is similar, but the distribution of meanings differs. 'Access' and 'imply' meanings are universal; 'criticise' is more British.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] get at [Object (thing)][Subject] get at [Object (person)][Subject] be getting at [something (idea)]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “What are you getting at? (What do you mean?)”
- “Stop getting at me! (Stop criticising/nagging me)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The auditors are trying to get at the real financial data."
Academic
"The author's central thesis is difficult to get at through the dense prose."
Everyday
"Do you see what I'm getting at? It's just not a good idea."
Technical
"The faulty component is buried deep, making it impossible to get at without specialised tools."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- My boss is always getting at me for minor mistakes.
- The files are locked away where no one can get at them.
- I think I see what you're getting at.
American English
- What exactly are you getting at with that question?
- The medicine is in a cabinet the children can't get at.
- The prosecution tried to get at the witness.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cat can't get at the bird in the cage.
- My toys are on a high shelf where my brother can't get at them.
- What are you getting at? Do you think I made a mistake?
- It's a simple idea, but he couldn't get at what I meant.
- The article seems to be getting at the need for fundamental reform.
- She felt her mother-in-law was constantly getting at her about her housekeeping.
- The inquiry aimed to get at the underlying causes of the systemic failure.
- His sarcastic comments were clearly designed to get at her insecurities.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone trying to GET AT a cookie jar on a high shelf (reach/access) while their sibling nags, "You're always trying to GET AT the treats!" (criticise).
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS GRASPING ("I can't get at what he means"), CRITICISM IS PHYSICAL ATTACK/PRODDING ("He's always getting at me").
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with Russian 'догадаться' (to guess). 'Get at' is about the speaker's implication, not the listener's deduction.
- Translating 'get at me' as 'доставать меня' is close for 'annoy', but misses the specific connotation of persistent verbal criticism.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'get at' for physical arrival (use 'get to').
- Confusing 'get at' with 'get to' in emotional contexts ('It gets to me' = it affects me emotionally).
- Using it transitively without an object (*'I finally got at' – incorrect).
Practice
Quiz
In British English, 'My teacher is always getting at me' most likely means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is generally neutral to informal. The meaning 'to criticise' is quite informal/colloquial, especially in British English.
'Get at' usually means to access, reach, or imply. 'Get to' means to arrive at a place, or to emotionally affect someone (e.g., 'The noise really gets to me').
Rarely with the 'criticise' meaning, but possible with the 'access' meaning. E.g., 'The documents must not be got at by unauthorised personnel.' (This sounds slightly awkward; 'accessed' is better).
The natural phrase is 'What are you getting at?' This is more common than 'What are you implying?' in everyday speech.
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