Page 147 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

get after someone

ventsŁone fromŁtalkingŁwell.Ł(ThisŁoften getŁ(a)hłldŁofŁ someone ortsomething 1. [with
leadsŁto one clearingŁone’sŁthràat.ŁAlso someone] to make contact with someone;
with havł .ŁSe the note at get a big send- to callŁsomeone onŁthe telephone.Ł(Se
off.) The speaker got a frog in his throØt alsà get one’s hands on someone or something;
and had to stop talkng for a while. Ex- get in touch (with someone).Ł Also with
cuse me. I have a frog in my throØt. havł .ŁSee the note at get a big send-off.)
I’ll try to get hold of you in the morn-
getŁafterŁ someone to remind,Łscold,ŁorŁnag ing. It’s very hard to głt hold of John.
someone (to do something).Ł(Infàrmal. He’s so busy. 2. [with something] to ob-
See also keep after someone.) John has- tainŁsàmething. I’m trying to get hold
n’t takłn out the garbage. I’ll have to głt of a glass jar. I need it for school. Dołs
after him. Mary’s mother will głt after anyone know where I can głt hold of a
her if she doesn’t do the dishes. spare tire? I have hold of a very large
piece of land. 3. Go to take (a)hold of
getŁ a graspŁ ofŁ something to understand
something. (Also with good, solid, and someone or something.
sound, asŁinŁthe examples.ŁAlso with havł . getŁa hurryŁon and getŁa moveŁon to start
See the note at get a big send-off.) Try to hurry.Ł(Infàrmal.) We are going to
to głt a grasp of the basic rules. You leave in five mnutes, Jane. Get a hurry on!
doà’t have a good grasp of the principles Mary! Get a move on! We can’t wait all
yłt. John was unable to get a solid grasp dØy.
of the młthods used in his work, and wł getŁa jump(ðtyrt) Go to get a start.
had to lłt him go.
getŁa kickŁoutŁofŁ someone ortsomething Go
getŁ a hyndleŁ on something Go to have a to get a charge out of someone or something.
handle on something.
getŁa lØcking and takeŁa lØcking to get a
getŁa hyndŁwithŁ something to receive assis- spanking; to get beat in a fight. (Folksy.)
tance with something. (Also with havł . Billy, you had better głt in here if you
Se the note at get a big send-off.) don’t want to get a lickng. Bob took a
Mary would really like to get a hand with real licking in the stock markłt. Tom
that. It’s too much for one peroon. I’d took a lickng in the fight he was in.
like to have a hand with this. GetŁa lØfe! Dàn’t act so sðupid!;ŁGet aŁpur-
pose forŁexisðing!Ł(Slang.ŁUsuallyŁrude.)
getŁaheadŁofŁ oneself [forŁsomeone]bto do or Hey, stupid! You want to get run over?
sayŁsàmethingŁsoonerŁthanŁit ought to b Get a lfł! You worthless jerk! Get a lfł!
dàne so that the pràperŁexplanationŁor
preparationsŁhave not beenŁmade.Ł I getŁa lineŁon someone ortsomething to get an
have to stick to my noŁes or I will głt ahead idea on how to locate someone or some-
of myself in my lecture. When he bought thing;Łto findŁout about someone who
a new lttle bicycle before the baby was canŁ helpŁ findŁ someone orŁ something.
born, he was getting ahead of himself. (Also with havł . See the note at get a bàg
send-off.) I got a lne on a book that
getŁa headŁstyrtŁ(on someone ortsomething) might help explain what you want to
1. [with someone] to sðart (something) know. Sally has a lne on someone who
earlierŁ thanŁ someone else.Ł (Also with could help you fix up your apartment.
havł .ŁSee the note at get a big send-off.) getŁ(all)Łdolled up to dressŁ(oneself) up.
Bill alwØys głts there first because he I have to get all dolled up for the dancł
gets a head start on everybody else. I’m tonight. I just love to get dolled up in my
doing well in my class because I have a best clothes.
head start. 2. [with somłthing ] to sðart
sàmethingŁearlierŁ(thanŁsàmeone else).Ł getŁa loadŁoffŁ one’ feet and takeŁa load
I was able to get a head start on my read- offŁ one’ feet to sit down; to enjoy the re-
ing during the holidØys. If I hadà’t had sultsŁof sittingŁdàwn.Ł(Infàrmal.) Come
a head start, I’d be behind in my readng. in, John. Sit down and take a load off your

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