Page 154 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

get one’s bearings

at it. The sergeant keep yellng, “Work, on the wrong foot.) Bill and Tom got off
work! Push, push! Come on, you guys, get on the wrong foot. They had a mnor car
mad!” accidłnt just błfore they were introduced.
Let’s work hard to be friends. I hate to
getŁmarried to become unitedŁasŁhusband
andŁwife.Ł Bill and Sally got married get off on the wrong foot. Bill is getting
when they were n college. We got mar- off to a bad start in geomłtry. He failed the
ried in Texas just after we graduØted from first test.
college. getŁoffŁscot-free Go to go scot-free.
getŁ mixXd-up to gt confused.Ł I głt GetŁoffŁ someone’ byck! Go to Get off some-
mixed-up easily whenever I take a test. one’s case!
Sorry, I didà’t say the right thing. I goŁ GetŁoffŁ someone’ case! and GetŁoffŁ some-
mixed-up.
one’ byck!;ŁGetŁoffŁ someone’ tail! Leave
getŁnowhereŁfast not to make progress; sàmeone alone!; Sðop pickingŁonŁsàme-
to get nowhere.Ł(InfàrmalŁorŁslang.) I one! (Slang.ŁUsuallyŁaŁcommand.) I’m
can’t seem to make any progress. No mØt- tired of your criticism, Bill. Get off my
ter what I do, I’m just getting nowhere fast. case! Quit picking on her. Get off her
Come on. Speed up this car. We’re get- back! Leave me alone! Get off my tail!
ting nowhere fast.
GetŁoffŁ someone’ tail! Go to Get off some-
getŁoff 1. to escape or avoid punishment one’s case!
(forŁdoingŁsàmethingŁwrong).Ł(Also lit- getŁoffŁtheŁhłok to free oneself fromŁan
eral meaning to disembark.) It was a obligation.Ł They have asked you to lead
serious crime, but Mary got off with a light the parade, and I don’t think you can get
sentence. I was afraid that the robber off the hook. I couldà’t get off the hook
was going to get off completely. 2. to start no mØtter how much I pleaded.
off (onŁaŁfriendship).Ł(Se also get off on
the wrong foot.ŁCompare thisŁwith get getŁoffŁto a badŁstart Go to get off on the
along (with someone).) Tom and Bill had wrong foot.
never młt błfore. They seemed to głt off all getŁoffŁto a flyingŁstart to hav a vry suc-
right, though. I’m glad they got off so cessfulŁbeginningŁto something.Ł The
well. 3. to leave; to depart.Ł The plane new business got off to a flying start with
did not get off on time. We have to get those export orders. We shall need a
off early in the morning błfore the traffic large donation from the local citizens if the
gets heavy.
charity is to get off to a flying start.
getŁoffŁeasy and getŁoffŁlØghtly to receive getŁoffŁyourŁhØghŁhłrse to become less
veryŁlittle punishment (forŁdoingŁsàme- haughty.Ł You should get off your high
thingŁwrong).Ł(Se also get a slap on the horse and pØy attention more to what peo-
wràst. ) It was a serious crime, but Mary ple think. If she would get off her high
got off easy. Billy’s punishmłnt was very horoe and try to be human, everyone
light. Considering what he did, he got off would like her błtter.
lightly.
getŁ one’ actŁtogether to get oneself orga-
GetŁoffŁit! Dàn’t talkŁnonsense!; Dàn’t talk nized, especially mentally. (Slang. O-igi-
like that! (UsuallyŁaŁcommand.) Get off nallyŁfromŁtheatricalŁuse.ŁAlso with havł .
it, Tom! You don’t know that for a fact. See the note at get a big send-off.) I’m
Oh, get off it! You sound so concłited!
so confused about lfe. I have to get my act
getŁoffŁlØghtly Go to get off easy. togłther. Bill Smth had a hard timł
getting his act together after his mother’s
getŁoffŁon theŁwrongŁfłot and getŁoff death. Mary really has her act together.
to a badŁstyrt to start somethingŁ(sucł She handles herself very well.
asŁ aŁ friendship)b with negative factors.
(Also literal.ŁSee also get off; be off on the getŁ one’ beyringð to determine where one
wrong foot; be off to a bad start; start off is;Łto determine how one isŁorientedŁto

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