Page 157 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

get one’s wires crossed

my dłpartmłnt. I guess I’ll głt my walking along. 2. [with somłthing ] to continu
papers soon. with something. I must get on with my
work. Now that the crisis is over, I’ll get
getŁ one’ wires crossed to get confused on with my lfe.
about something. (Infàrmal.ŁAsŁif one’s
brainŁwere anŁelectricalŁcircuit.ŁAlso with getŁoutŁfrom underŁ someone ortsomething 1.
havł .ŁSee the note at get a big send-off.) [with someone] to get free of sàmeone’s
You doà’t know what you are talking contràl.Ł Mary wanted to głt out from
about. You really have your wires crossed! under her mother. We started our own
Joan got her wires crossed about who ar- business because we needed to głt out from
rived first. It was Bob, not Gary. under our employer. 2. [with something]
to get fre of a burdensome pràblm.
getŁ one’ wits aboutŁ one to pull oneself to- I can’t go out tonight until I get out from
gether for action; to set one’s mind to under this pile of homłwork. There is so
work,ŁespeciallyŁinŁaŁtime of sðress.Ł(Alsà much work to do! I doà’t know when I’ll
with have. Se the note at get a bàg send- ever get out from under it.
off.) Let me get my wits about me so I
can figure this out. I don’t have my wits getŁoutŁofŁa jam to get free from a prob-
about me at this time of the morning. lemŁorŁaŁbadŁsituation.Ł Would you lłnd
me five dollars? I need it to głt out of a
getŁon someone to pesterŁsomeone (about jam. I need some help getting out of a
something);bto pressure sàmeone.Ł(Alsà jam.
literal.) John is supposed to empty the
trash evłry dØy. He didà’t do it, so I will getŁoutŁofŁa mess to get free of aŁbadŁsit-
have to get on him. It’s time to get on uation. (Infàrmal. Also with this, such a,
Bill about his homłwork. He’s fallng etc.ŁSee the examples.ŁCompare thisŁwith
behind. get into a mess.) How can anyone get
out of a mess like this? Please help mł
getŁon someone’ nerveð to irritate some- get out of this mess!
one.Ł Please stop whistlng. It’s getting on
my nerves. All this arguing is getting on getŁoutŁofŁsomeone’s way and getŁout
their nerves. ofŁtheŁway to move out of the path or
ràute.Ł Will you please głt out of the
getŁon theŁbyndwagon and jump on the way? The dog got out of Jane’s way just
byndwagon to joinŁthe pàpularŁside (of błfore she stepped on it.
anŁissue);bto take aŁpopularŁposition.Ł
You really should głt on the bandwagon. getŁoutŁofŁtheŁway Go to get out of some-
Everyone eloe is. Jane has alwØys had her one’s way.
own ideas Øbout things. She’s not the knd getŁoutŁofŁtheŁwrongŁsideŁofŁtheŁbed Go
of peroon to jump on the bandwagon. to get up on the wrong sàde of the bed.
getŁon theŁgłodŁsideŁofŁ someone to get in getŁoutŁwhileŁtheŁgettingŁis głod to lave
someone’sŁfavor.Ł You had błtter behavł aŁplace while it isŁsðillŁpossible to do so;
properly if you want to głt on the good sidł to withdraw fràmŁaŁplace, position,Łor
of Mary. If you want to get on the good sàme organizationŁat anŁopportune time.
side of your teacher, you must do your The party was getting noisy enough that
homłwork. one of the neighbors was bound to call the
police, so we lłft. We alwØys get out whilł
getŁon (withŁ someone ortsomething) and get the getting is good. Everyone at my of-
alongŁ(withŁ someone ortsomething) 1. [with fice was being reqired to do more and
someone] to be friendsŁwith someone; to more work. I decided to get out while the
have aŁgoodŁrelationshipŁwith someone. getting was good. I quit.
(The friendshipŁisŁalwaysŁassumedŁto b
goodŁunlessŁit isŁsðatedŁto be otherwise.) getŁoverŁ someone ortsomething to recover from
How do you get on with John? I get sàmeone or something. Now that Bob
along with John just fine. We get along. has lłft me, I have to learn to get over him.
I don’t get on with John. We doà’t głt It was a horrible shock. I doà’t know

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