get one's Idiom, Proverb
get one's wires crossed
get one's walking papers
Idiom(s): get one's walking papersTheme: FAILURE
to get fired. (Informal.)
• Well, I'm through. I got my walking papers today.
• They are closing down my department. I guess I'll get my walking papers soon.
get one's teeth into
Idiom(s): get one's teeth into sthTheme: WORK
to start on something seriously, especially a difficult task. (Informal.)
• Come on, Bill. You have to get your teeth into your biology.
• I can't wait to get my teeth into this problem.
get one's start
Idiom(s): get one's startTheme: BEGINNINGS
to receive the first major opportunity of one's career.
• I had my start in painting when I was thirty.
• She helped me get my start by recommending me to the manager.
get one's second wind
Idiom(s): get one's second windTheme: EXERCISE
for one's breathing to become stabilized after exerting oneself for a short time.
• John was having a hard time running until he got his second wind.
• Bill had to quit the race because he never got his second wind.
• "At last," thought Ann, "I have my second wind. Now I can really swim fast."
get one's sea legs
Idiom(s): get one's sea legsTheme: SEA
to become accustomed to the movement of a ship at sea; to be able to walk steadily on the constantly rolling and pitching decks of a ship.
• Jean was a little awkward at first, but in a few days she got her sea legs and was fine.
• You may feel a little sick until you get your sea legs.
• I will feel better when I have my sea legs.
get one's say
Idiom(s): get one's sayTheme: FREEDOM
to be able to state one's position; to be able to say what one thinks.
• I want to have my say on this matter.
• He got his say, and then he was happy.
get one's own way
Idiom(s): get one's (own) way (with sb or sth)Theme: DOMINATION - END
to have someone or something follow one's plans; to control someone or something.
• The mayor got his way with the city council.
• He seldom gets his own way.
• How often do you have your way with your own money?
• Parents usually have their way with their children.
get one's number
Idiom(s): get one's numberTheme: UNDERSTANDING
to find out about a person; to learn the key to understanding a person. (Informal.)
• I'm going to get your number if I can. You're a real puzzle.
• I've got Tom's number. He's ambitious.
get one's nose out of one's business
Idiom(s): get one's nose out of one's businessTheme: WITHDRAW
to stop interfering in someone else's business; to mind one's own business.
• Go away! Get your nose out of my business!
• Bob just can't seem to get his nose out of other people's business.
get one's money's worth
Idiom(s): get one's money's worthTheme: VALUE
to get everything that has been paid for; to get the best quality for the money paid.
• Weigh that package of meat before you buy it. Be sure you're getting your money's worth.
• I didn't get my money's worth with my new camera, so I took it back.
• I will stay here and watch the movie over and over until I get my money's worth.
get one's knuckles rapped
Idiom(s): get one's knuckles rappedTheme: PUNISHMENT
to receive punishment.
• I got my knuckles rapped for whispering too much.
• You will have your knuckles rapped if you are not careful.
get one's just deserts
Idiom(s): get one's just desertsTheme: CONSEQUENCES
to get what one deserves.
• I feel better now that Jane got her just deserts. She really insulted me.
• Bill got back exactly the treatment that he gave out. He got his just deserts.
get one's hooks into
Idiom(s): get one's hooks into sb or sthTheme: ACQUISITION
to grasp someone or something; to acquire someone or something; to get someone or something in one's grasp. (Said of someone who is grasping and acquisitive and who will not let go easily. Usually said about a person or about something that is small enough to grasp in one's hand.)
• I want to get my hooks into a copy of that book.
• She cant wait until she gets her hooks into George.
get one's head above water
Idiom(s): get one's head above waterTheme: SURVIVAL
to get ahead of one's problems; to catch up with one's work or responsibilities.
• I can't seem to get my head above water. Work just keeps piling up.
• I'll be glad when I have my head above water.
get one's hands on
Idiom(s): get one's hands on someone or something AND lay one's hands on someone or somethingTheme: ACQUISITION
to get (a)hold of someone or something; to get someone or something in one's grasp. (Informal. Sometimes said in anger, as if one may wish to do harm.)
• Just wait until I get my hands on Tom. I'll really give him something to think about.
• When I lay my hands on my book again, I'll never lend it to anyone.
get one's hands dirty
Idiom(s): get one's hands dirty AND dirty one's hands; soil one's handsTheme: WRONG - DEED
to become involved with something illegal; to do something that is beneath one.
• The mayor would never get his hands dirty by giving away political favors.
• I will not dirty my hands by breaking the law.
get one's goat
Idiom(s): get one's goatTheme: ANNOYANCE
to irritate someone; to annoy and arouse someone to anger.
• I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get your goat.
• Jean got Sally's goat and Sally made quite a fuss about it.
• Tom really had her goat for a while.
get one's foot in the door
Idiom(s): get one's foot in the doorTheme: ADVANTAGE - GAIN
to achieve a favorable position (for further action); to take the first step in a process.
• I think I could get the job if I could only get my foot in the door.
• It pays to get your foot in the door. Try to get an appointment with the boss.
• I have a better chance now that I have my foot in the door.
get one's fingers burned
Idiom(s): get one's fingers burnedTheme: EXPERIENCE
to have a bad experience.
• I had my fingers burned the last time I did this.
• I tried that once before and got my fingers burned. I wont try it again.
• If you go swimming and get your fingers burned, you wont want to swim again.
get one's fill of
Idiom(s): get one's fill of sb or sthTheme: ENOUGH
to receive enough of someone or something.
• You'll soon get your fill of Tom. He can be quite a pest.
• I can never get my fill of shrimp. I love it.
• Three weeks of visiting grandchildren is enough. I've had my fill of them.
get one's feet wet
Idiom(s): get one's feet wetTheme: BEGINNINGS - CAUTIOUS
to begin something; to have one's first experience of something. (Informal. As if one were wading into water.)
• Of course he can't do the job right. He's hardly got his feet wet yet.
• I'm looking forward to learning to drive. I can't wait to get behind the steering wheel and get my feet wet.
• I've only been at this job for a month, and I don't have my feet wet yet.
get one's feet on the ground
Idiom(s): get one's feet on the groundTheme: ESTABLISHMENT
to get firmly established or reestablished.
• He's new at the job, but soon he'll get his feet on the ground.
• Her productivity will improve after she gets her feet on the ground again.
• Don't worry about Sally. She has her feet on the ground.
get one's ear
Idiom(s): get one's earTheme: ATTENTION
to get someone to listen (to you).
• He got my ear and talked for an hour.
• While I have your ear, I'd like to tell you about something I'm selling.
get one's ducks in a row
Idiom(s): get one's ducks in a rowTheme: ARRANGEMENT
to get something into order or into line; to put one's affairs in order; to get things ready. (Also with have.)
• Jane is organized. She really has all her ducks in a row.
• You can't hope to go into a company and sell something until you get your ducks in a row.
• As soon as you people get your ducks in a row, we'll leave.
get one's dander up
Idiom(s): get someone's dander up AND get someone's back up; get sb's hackles up; get sb's Irish upTheme: INCITE - ANGER
to make someone get angry.
• Now, don't get your dander up. Calm down.
• I insulted him and really got his hackles up.
• Bob had his Irish up all day yesterday. I don't know what was wrong.
• She really got her back up when I asked her for money.
• Now, now, don't get your hackles up. I didn't mean any harm.
get one's comeuppance
Idiom(s): get one's comeuppanceTheme: SCOLDING
to get a reprimand; to get the punishment one deserves. (Folksy.)
• Tom is always insulting people, but he finally got his comeuppance. Bill hit him.
• I hope I don't get my comeuppance like that.
get one's bearings
Idiom(s): get one's bearingsTheme: LOCATION
to determine where one is; to determine how one is oriented to one's immediate environment.
• After he fell, it took Ted a few minutes to get his bearings.
• Jane found her compass and got her bearings almost immediately.
• I don't have my bearings yet. Wait a minute.
get one's Irish up
Idiom(s): get someone's dander up AND get someone's back up; get sb's hackles up; get sb's Irish upTheme: INCITE - ANGER
to make someone get angry.
• Now, don't get your dander up. Calm down.
• I insulted him and really got his hackles up.
• Bob had his Irish up all day yesterday. I don't know what was wrong.
• She really got her back up when I asked her for money.
• Now, now, don't get your hackles up. I didn't mean any harm.
get one's hackles up
Idiom(s): get someone's dander up AND get someone's back up; get sb's hackles up; get sb's Irish upTheme: INCITE - ANGER
to make someone get angry.
• Now, don't get your dander up. Calm down.
• I insulted him and really got his hackles up.
• Bob had his Irish up all day yesterday. I don't know what was wrong.
• She really got her back up when I asked her for money.
• Now, now, don't get your hackles up. I didn't mean any harm.
get one's eye
Idiom(s): catch someone's eye AND get someone's eyeTheme: ATTRACTION
to establish eye contact with someone; to attract someone's attention. (Also with have.)
• The shiny red car caught Mary's eye.
• Tom got Mary's eye and waved to her.
• When Tom had her eye, he smiled at her.
get one's back up
Idiom(s): get someone's dander up AND get someone's back up; get sb's hackles up; get sb's Irish upTheme: INCITE - ANGER
to make someone get angry.
• Now, don't get your dander up. Calm down.
• I insulted him and really got his hackles up.
• Bob had his Irish up all day yesterday. I don't know what was wrong.
• She really got her back up when I asked her for money.
• Now, now, don't get your hackles up. I didn't mean any harm.
find one's bearings|bearings|find|get|get one's be
v. phr. To know where one is or where one is headed. "Without a compass," the sergeant warned the enlisted men, "you will never find your bearings in the desert."get one's back up|back|get
v. phr., informal To become or make angry or stubborn. Fred got his back up when I said he was wrong. Our criticisms of his actions just got his hack up.get one's brains fried|brains|fried|fry|get
v. phr., slang, also used colloquially 1. To sit in the sun and sunbathe for an excessive length of time. Newcomers to Hawaii should be warned not to sit in the sun too long
they'll get their brains fried. 2. To get high on drugs. He can't make a coherent sentence anymore he's got his brains fried.get one's dander up|Irish|dander|get|get one's Iri
v. phr. To become or make angry. The boy got his dander up because he couldn't go to the store. The children get the teacher's dander up when they make a lot of noise.Compare: BLOW A FUSE.
get one's ducks in a row|duck|ducks|get|row
v. phr., informal To get everything ready. The scoutmaster told the boys to get their ducks in a row before they went to camp. Mr. Brown got his ducks in a row for his trip.Compare: LINE UP.
get one's feet wet|feet|foot|get|wet|wet feet
v. phr., informal To begin; do something for the first time. The party was at Bill's house and when Ruth and I got there the party had already started. "Jump right in and don't be afraid to get your feet wet," said Bill. "It's not hard to dance once you get your feet wet," said the teacher.get one's goat|get|goat
v. phr., informal To make a person disgusted or angry. The boy's laziness all summer got his father's goat. The slow service at the cafe got Mr. Robinson's goat.get one's number|get|have|have one's number|number
v. phr., informal To find out or know what kind of person somebody is. The boys soon had the new student's number. The girls got their new roommate's number the first week of school.get one's rear in gear|gear|get|in gear|rear
v. phr., slang To hurry up, to get going. I'm gonna have to get my rear in gear.lay one's hands on|get one's hands on|hand|hands|l
v. phr. 1. To seize in order to punish or treat roughly. If I ever lay my hands on that boy he'll be sorry.Compare: LAY A FINGER ON. 2. To get possession of. He was unable to lay his hands on a Model T Ford for the school play.
Compare: LAY HANDS ON1. 3. or lay one's hand on or put one's hand on To find; locate. He keeps a file of letters so he can lay his hands on one whenever he needs it.
sink one's teeth into|get|get one's teeth into|sin
v. phr., informal To have something real or solid to think about; go to work on seriously; struggle with. After dinner, John got his teeth into the algebra lesson. Frank chose a subject for his report that he could sink his teeth into.foot in the door, get one's
foot in the door, get one'sAchieve an initial stage; succeed with a first step. For example, I think I could do well in an interview once I get my foot in the door with an appointment. This term alludes to the door-to-door salesperson or canvasser who blocks the door with one foot so it cannot be closed.
get one's
get one's1.
In addition to the idioms beginning with get one's, also see get someone's.
2.
1) Get one's due punishment or reward, as in If they put off their schoolwork to go 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
- get one's act together
- get one's bearings
- get one's comeuppance
- get one's ducks in a row
- get one's feet on the ground
- get one's feet wet
- get one's fill
- get one's hands dirty
- get one's hands on
- get one's head examined
- get one's money's worth
- get one's own back
- get one's teeth into
- get one's walking papers
- get one's way
- get one's wires crossed
get one's act together
get one's act togetherAlso, 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 fill
get one's fillAlso, 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 head examined
get one's head examinedAlso, 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 own back
get one's own backsee get back at.
get one's way
get one's wayAlso, 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
1. Get one's due abuse or reward, as in If they put off their schoolwork to go the brawl game, eventually or after they'll get endemic , or The abutment associates were able to go on strike; they were bent to get theirs. The abuse adaptation is earlier, dating from about 1900.
2. Be killed, as in "He'd got his. I knew it by the way his arch formed in my hands" (Rudyard Kipling, Diversity of Creatures, 1913). This acceptance originated in the military. [c. 1900] Learn more: get
An get one's idiom dictionary is a great resource for writers, students, and anyone looking to expand their vocabulary. It contains a list of words with similar meanings with get one's, allowing users to choose the best word for their specific context.
Dictionary of similar words, Different wording, Synonyms, Idioms for Idiom, Proverb get one's
Learn more
Music ♫