get at

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

get at (third-person singular simple present gets at, present participle getting at, simple past got at, past participle (UK) got at or (US) gotten at)

1. To manage to gain access to.

   I have a lot of money in my trust fund. I just can't get at it.

2. To understand or ascertain by investigation.

   We need to get at the root cause of all this.

3. To mean, signify.

   Synonym: drive at

   I don't understand. What are you getting at?

4. To attack verbally or physically; to annoy, bother.

   He's a bit disheartened. The newspapers have been getting at him again.

   My cat was badly injured after the neighbour's dog got at her.

5. To persuade by intimidation, to tamper with.

   That was a ridiculous verdict. I think the jury was got at.

6. To begin working on or dealing with.

   Synonyms: have at, get on

   Stop procrastinating on your work and get at it!

7. (slang) To contact someone.

   I've got some things to do for about an hour. After that, get at me.

Derived terms

• ungetatable

Translations

to manage to gain access to — see access

to understand or ascertain by investigation

to mean, signify, drive at — see drive at,‎ mean

to attack verbally or physically — see attack

to annoy, bother — see annoy,‎ bother

to persuade by intimidation, to tamper with

• Hungarian: megkörnyékez (hu), megveszteget (hu), megfélemlít (hu), megdolgoz (hu), befolyásol (hu) (-ni akar/igyekszik/próbál/szándékozik) (literally “strive, attempt to… [corrupt, intimidate, etc.]”)

(slang) to contact someone — see contact

Anagrams

• taget