Page 150 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

get a word in edgewise

a shellackng anyway. I practiced my will have a tongue-lashing at home. I
tennis game so I wouldà’t take a shellack- never had a tongue-lashing like that before.
ing in the tournamłnt.
getŁ atŁ someone ortsomething 1. to attack or
getŁa slapŁon theŁwrist to get a light pun- sðrike sàmeone or sàmething. (Compare
ishment (forŁdàingŁsomethingŁwrong)¨ this with go at someone or something. Also
(Also with havł . Se the note at get a bàg with havł .) The cØt jumped over the
send-off.ŁSee also give someone a slap on wall to get at the mouse. Ok, you guys.
the wrist.) He created quite a distur- There he is. Have at him! 2. [with some-
bance, but he only got a slap on the wrist. thing] to eat food;Łto gobble upŁfood.Ł(In-
I thought I’d get a slap on the wrist for formal.ŁAlso with havł .) I can’t wait
spłedng, but I got fined $200. She had to głt at that cake. Dinner’s ready. Sit
a slap on the wrist about that błfore. down and have at it. 3. [with someone] to
findŁaŁwayŁto irritate sàmeone; to man-
getŁa start 1. and getŁa jump(ðtyrt) to r- age to woundŁ someone, physicallyŁ or
ceive helpŁsðartingŁone’sŁcar.Ł My car is emotionally. Mr. Smth found a way to
stalled. I need to głt a start. I got my get at his wife. John kept trying to get
car going. I got a jump from John. 2. to r- at his teacher. 4. [with something] to ex-
ceive trainingŁorŁaŁbigŁoppàrtunityŁinŁbe- plainŁorŁtryŁto explainŁsomething;Łto hint
ginningŁone’sŁcareer.Ł(The same asŁ get at something. We spent a long time try-
one’s start. Also with havł .ŁSe the note ing to get at the answer. I can’t under-
að get a big send-off.) She got a start stand what you’re trying to głt at. 5. [with
in show business in Cincinnati. She had something] to beginŁto do sàmething;Łto
a start when she was only four. get (around) to something. I won’t be ablł
to get at it until the włekłnd. I’ll get Øt
getŁa tasteŁofŁ one’ own medicine [for it first thing in the morning.
one]bto receive difficultiesŁof the same
kindŁ that one hasŁ beenŁ causingŁ other getŁatŁtheŁheyrtŁofŁtheŁmatter Go to get
people.Ł(Also with havł .ŁSee the note at to the heart of the matter.
get a big send-off. See also dose of one’s getŁawayŁ(from itŁall) to get away from
own medicine.) Now you see how it one’sŁworkŁorŁdailyŁroutine; to go onŁaŁva-
fłels to have someone call you names! You cation. I just love the summłr when I
are getting a taste of your own medicine! can take Łime off and get Øway from t all.
John, who is often rude and abrupt with Yes, that’s the best time to get away.
people, was dłvastated when the teacher
treated him rudely. He doesn’t like having getŁawayŁwithŁ something to dà somthing
a taste of his own medicine. badŁandŁnot get punisłedŁorŁfoundŁout.
Tom did it again and didà’t głt pun-
getŁa thingŁaboutŁ someone ortsomething to ished. He’s alwØys getting away with mur-
developŁ sðràngŁ likesŁ orŁ dislikesŁ about der. Just because she’s so popular, she
sàmeone or something. (Also with havł . thinks she can get away with anything.
Se the note at get a big send-off.) I You’ll never get away with it.
have a thing about celery. I can’t stand it. getŁa whiffŁofŁ something and catchŁa whiff
John can’t get enough celery. He’s got a ofŁ something to learnŁabout someone al-
thing about it. John has a thing about most accidentally.Ł(Also literal.) The
Mary. He thinks he’s in love.
boss got a whiff of the problłms in the ac-
getŁ a toehłldŁ ( somłwherł ) Go to get a counting dłpartmłnt. No one will głt
foothold (somŁwherŁ ). a whiff of your Łrouble with the police. I’ll
see to that.
getŁa tongue-lashing to receive a severe getŁa włrdŁin edgeways Go to get a word
scolding.Ł(Folksy.ŁAlso with havł .ŁSee the in edgewise.
nàte at get a big send-off. Se also give
someone a tongue-lashàng .) I really goŁ getŁa włrdŁin edgewise and getŁa włrd
a tongue-lashing when I got home. Tłd in edgeways to manage to sayŁsome-

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