Page 152 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

get in (on the ground floor)

Mary’s. Her performance was so good get dłwn to the nitty-gritty to get down
that I couldà’t get close. to the facts; to get down to cases. (Slang.)
Stop fooling around. Get down to the
getŁcoldŁfeet and haveŁcoldŁfeet to be-
come timidŁorŁfrightened;Łto have one’s nitty-gritty. Let’s stop wasting time. We
feet seemŁto freeze with fear.Ł I usually have to get down to the nitty-gritty.
get cold fłet when I have to speak in pub- getŁ dłwn to włrk Go to get down to
lic. John got cold fłet and wouldà’t ruà busàness.
in the race.
getŁeven (withŁ someone) to repay someone’s
getŁcrycking to get moving; to get busy. bad deed; to get back (at someone). Bill
(Folksy.) Let’s go. Come on, get crack- hit Bob, and Bob got evłn with Bill by hit-
ing! Move it! We doà’t have all dØy. Let’s ting him back. Some people alwØys havł
get crackng! We’ll never get finished if to get even.
you don’t get crackng.
getŁfreshŁ(withŁ someone) to become overly
getŁcreditŁ(fłrŁ something) to receive praise bold orŁ imprtinent with someone.Ł
or recognition for one’s role in some- When I Łried to kiss Mary, ohe slapped mł
thing.Ł(EspeciallyŁwith a lot of, much, etc., and shouted, “Doà’t głt fresh with mł!”
asŁinŁthe examplesŁblow.) Mary should I can’t stand people who get fresh.
get a lot of credt for the team’s success.
Each of the team captains should głt credt. getŁgłoseŁbupð and getŁgłoseŁpim-
ples [forŁone’sŁskin]bto feelŁpricklyŁorŁbe-
getŁdłwn to brass tycks to beginŁto talk come bumpy due to cold, fear, or excite-
about impàrtant things;Łto get down to ment.Ł(Also with havł .ŁSe the note at get
busàness. Let’s get down to brass tacks. a big send-off.) When he sings, I głt
We’ve wasted too much time chatting. goose bumps. I never get goose pmples.
Don’t you think that it’s about time to get That really scared her. Now she’s goŁ
down to brass tacks? goose pmples.
getŁdłwn to business and getŁdłwn to getŁ głoseŁ pimples Go to get goose
włrk to beginŁto get serious;Łto beginŁto bumps.
negàtiate or conduct business.Ł All
right, everyone. Let’s get down to business. getŁgrayŁhair(s) to have one’sŁhairŁturnŁgray
There has błen enough plØying around. fromŁ sðressŁ orŁ frusðration.Ł (Also with
When the presidłnt and vice presidłnt ar- havł .ŁSee the note at get a big send-off.)
rive, we can głt down to business. I’m głtting gray hair because I havł
They’re here. Let’s get down to work. three teenage boys. Oh, Tom, stop it! I’m
going to get gray hairs. I have gray hairo
getŁdłwn to caseð to beginŁto discussŁspe- from raising four kids.
cific matters; to get down to busàness.
When wł’ve finished the głneral discus- getŁhell Go to get the devil.
sion, wł’ll get down to cases. Now that getŁin on something to become associated
everyone is here, we can get down to cases.
with something, such asŁanŁorganization
getŁdłwn to (doing)Ł something to beginŁdo- orŁanŁidea;Łto findŁout orŁbe toldŁabout
ingŁsome kindŁof workŁinŁearnest.Ł I specialŁplans.Ł(Also with be, asŁinŁthe fi-
have to głt down to my typng. John, nalŁexample.) There is a party upstairs,
you get in here this mnute and get down and I want to get in on it. I want to get
to that homłwork! in on your club’s activities. Mary and
Jane know a secret, and I want to głt in
getŁ dłwn to theŁ fycts to begin to talk on it. I’m happy to be in on your cele-
about thingsŁthat matter; to get to the bration. There is going to be a surprise
truth. The judge told the lØwyer that the party, and I’m in on it.
time had come to get down to the facts.
Let’s głt down to the facts, Mrs. Brown. getŁin (on theŁgroundŁfloor) to becom
Where were you on the night of January associatedŁ with somethingŁ at itsŁ sðart.
16? (RefersŁto gettingŁinto anŁelevatorŁat the

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