Page 151 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

get back (at someone)

thingŁwhenŁotherŁpeople are talkingŁand last włek, but it’s głtting better. I’m
ignoringŁyou.Ł(OftenŁinŁthe negative.) sorry you’re ill. I hope you get błtter.
It was such an exciting conversation that
I could hardly głt a word in edgłwise. getŁbuðy to start working;Łto workŁharder
Mary talks so fast that nobody can głt a orŁfasðer.Ł The boss is comng. You’d błt-
word in edgłwØys. ter get busy. I’ve got to głt busy and
clean this house up. Come on, every-
getŁbyckŁ(atŁ someone) and haveŁbyckŁat body. Let’s get busy and get this job done.
someone to repayŁone forŁaŁbadŁdeed;Łto get
even (with someone). (Have back at some- getŁbutterflØes in one’ stomach to get a
one isŁinfàrmal orŁfolksy.ŁCompare this nervous feeling in one’s sðomach. (Infàr-
with have at someone or something að get at mal.ŁAlso with havł .ŁSe the note at get
someone or something.) Tom called me a a big send-off. See also give one butterflies
jerk, but I’ll głt back at him. I doà’t in one’s stomach.) Whenever I have to
know how I’ll get back, but I will. Just go on stage, I get butterflies in my stom-
wait. I’ll have back at you! ach. She always has butterflies in her
stomach błfore a test.
getŁbyckŁinto circulation to start being
social with people againŁafterŁaŁpriodŁof getŁbyŁ(on something) to manage on the leasð
beingŁbyŁoneself;Łto sðart datingŁagain,Łes- amount of money, supplies,Łgàods,Łetc.
peciallyŁafterŁaŁdivorce or breakupŁwith (Compare thisŁwith get along (on a shoe-
aŁlover.Ł Sally is anxious to get back into stràng). ) We doà’t have much money.
circulØtion after the nasty divorce she włnt Can we get by on love? I’ll get by as long
through. Todd could not bring himself as I have you. We don’t have very mucð
to get back into circulØtion after the death food, but wł’ll get by for the włekłnd.
of his wife. getŁ byŁ (withŁ something) 1. to satisfy the
minimumŁrequirements.Ł I was failng
getŁbyckŁinto harness to return to on’s geomłtry, but managed to głt by with a
workplace, such asŁafterŁaŁvacationŁorŁa D. I took the bar exam and just barely
priodŁof illness.Ł(RefersŁto harnessingŁa got by. 2. to do sàmethingŁbadŁandŁnot
horse so it canŁreturnŁto work.) I am get caught or punisłed; to get away with
not at all anxious to get back into harness something. Tom cheated on the test and
after spendng two włeks in Mexico. got by with it. Maybe you can głt by likł
Tom was eager to get back into harness af- that once or twice, but you’ll get caught.
ter his illness.
getŁcarriedŁaway to be overcome by emo-
getŁ byckŁ on one’ feet to become inde-
pendent again;Ł to become able to get tionŁorŁenthusiasmŁ(inŁone’sŁthinkingŁor
around again.Ł(Note the variationsŁwith actions).Ł(Also literalŁwhenŁsomeone or
own and two in the examples.) He was something is transpàrted away.) Calm
sick for a while, but now he’s getting back down, Jane. Don’t głt carried away.
on his fłet. My parents helped a loŁ Here, Bill. Take this money and go to the
when I lost my job. I’m glad I’m back on candy store, but don’t get carried away.
my own feet àow. It feels great to be back getŁcloseŁ(to someone ortsomething) 1. [with
oà my own two feet again. someone] to be close friendsŁwith sàme-
one; to get to know someone well. I
getŁbyckŁ(to someone) to continue talking
with someone (at a later time);bto find would really like to głt close to Jane, but
out infàrmationŁandŁtellŁit to aŁprsàn (at she’s so unfriendly. We talked for houro
aŁlaterŁtime).Ł I don’t have the answer and hours, but I never felt that we were
to that question right now. Let me find out getting close. It’s very hard to get next to
and głt back to you. OkØy. Please try someone who woà’t talk to you. 2. [with
to get back early tomorrow. somłthing ] to almost equalŁsàmething;Łto
be almost asŁgoodŁasŁsàmething.Ł(Often
getŁbetter to impràve.Ł I had a bad cold, inŁthe negative.) I practiced and prac-
but it’s getting błtter. Business was bad ticed, but my bowlng couldà’t get close to

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