7 expressions with get
Idioms | B1

7 Expressions with Get

These micro-dictation exercises contain 7 different expressions with Get.

‘Get’ is one of the most common verbs in the English language. As well as having several basic meanings (and being used in grammatical structures like the passive) it is also used in a lots and lots of idioms and fixed expressions.

Learning some of these idioms and expressions is a very good way of improving your understanding of everyday conversation, while also making your own English more varied and natural.

This exercise contains 7 micro-dictations, each one containing a different idiom or expression with Get.

See how much you can understand, try to guess the meaning of the expression, and then check the definition. Good luck!

#1 to get a shock

Accent: North America

Volume

80%

Speed

. .

I a when . He he's 10 .

to get a shock = to be surprised by something negative or unpleasant.

e.g. I got a shock when I saw the gas bill – it was 5 times what I had been expecting.

#2 to get the chance

Accent: England (London)

Volume

80%

Speed

Naples – .

visit Naples the – the pizza there .

About the sentence

The idiom to get the chance to do something is another way of saying to have the opportunity to do something.

e.g. I wanted to ask for his autograph but I didn’t get the chance.

e.g. Did you get the chance to ask your boss for next Thursday off?

#3 to get to know someone

Accent: England (RP)

Volume

80%

Speed

, .

I know unpleasant , but if know him you'll .

About the sentence

We use the expression to get to know someone to describe the process of learning more about a person by spending time with them.

e.g. I got to know Paul while we were travelling up to Scotland.

#4 to get rid of something

Accent: Scotland

Volume

80%

Speed

, .

I flat, previous owners dog haven't to get smell.

The expression to get rid of something means to remove something or make it go away.

e.g. Please can we get rid of these curtains? I’ve never liked them.

e.g. He used to have a big tattoo on his neck; I wonder how he got rid of it?

#5 to get hold of someone

Accent: Northern England

Volume

80%

Speed

, ?

I've to of you , why haven't phone ?

The meaning of the expression to get hold of someone is to make contact and communicate with someone, usually on the phone.

e.g. I can’t get hold of John. Maybe he’s changed his number?

#6 to get on someone’s nerves

Accent: Ireland

Volume

80%

Speed

. ASAP.

That dripping really nerves. We it ASAP.

The idiom to get on someone’s nerves can be used as an alternative to the verb to annoy someone.

e.g. I don’t know why, but his voice really gets on my nerves.

#7 to get up to speed

Accent: Scotland

Volume

80%

Speed

, .

is going , it's a while to everything.

Idioms

Ireland, North America, Northern England, Received Pronunciation, Scotland

23 responses

Arbulon
February 18, 2019
Scottish accent is the most difficult accent I’ve ever heard. This accent gives me a hard time understanding.
Reply
1. Chris Bargery
  February 18, 2019
  I find it hard sometimes too 🙂
  This website is a great resource for listening to a variety of accents – this is a link to the Scottish collection but there are many others to practise too.
  Reply
Tanya
February 20, 2019
1. The last time I got shock when I saw a woman I know for few years – she lost many kilograms and became a really well-looked woman!
2. If I had a chance, I would go to Australia.
3. When I met my friend Ann at first, I thought she was a bit crazy 🙂 But after I got to know her, we became best friends.
4. Well, I get rid of some old or unnessesary staff pretty easy, except some things (clothes, postcards or others) which became my favourite.
5. I was a difficult person to get hold of because I could turn off my cellphone or put it somewhere far from me for a few hours. It really irritated my mum 🙂 Now the situation much better – I just mute the sound 🙂 So people sometimes can’t get hold of me.
6. Unstoppable complainings really get on my nerves :/
What about you – what get on your nerves?)
Reply
1. Chris Bargery
  February 20, 2019
  Well done Tanya 🙂 here are a few corrections:
  1) “…she had lost many kilograms and had become a really good looking woman”. Think about why you need the past perfect here.
  2) “If I got the chance I would go to Australia.”
  4) “…pretty easily…”
  5) “I just mute the sound” is fine, but it would sound more natural to say “I just put it on silent”.
  6) Should be “complaining” (not complainings)
  Great examples Tanya. As for your question – I’m quite an easygoing person but rudeness gets on my nerves, as do people who make life more difficult/stressful than it needs to be!
  Reply
  1. Tanya
    February 21, 2019
    Thank you for your feedback! Everything is clear)
    Reply
martha
February 20, 2019
for me the most difficult was the English, RP I don’t know what RP means but it is really difficult, but I like these exercises a lot.
Reply
1. Chris Bargery
  February 20, 2019
  Thanks Martha! I’m glad you like the exercises. Don’t worry if you find them challenging – this kind of listening is not easy.
  Good question about RP. ‘RP’ stands for ‘received pronunciation’. It is a little bit complicated, but a simple explanation is that RP is a kind of non-geographical English accent (it isn’t really connected to a specific part of the UK). Traditionally, speaking with an RP accent was associated with being educated or upper class, but attitudes related to accents have changed a lot and this isn’t really true now. Here’s a good explanation if you want to read a bit more: http://www.davidcrystal.com/?id=3106
  Reply
Aline
February 20, 2019
1. The last time I got a shock was when a knew that the price of bus ticket would be increased
2. I would study abroad, if I got the chance. Once, I had the chance to talk to American students, but didn’t do it :/
3. There were two twins girls, who I didn’t like at first, but I got to know them and we became friends
4. I think I’m good at getting rid of things I don’t need, because when I compare my wardrobe with my sister’s, I see that she has a lot of useless stuff.
5. Today, I’ve needed my sister’s help to fill a formulary, but I couldn’t get hold of her. Most times I am the person that people can’t get hold of
6. Ignorant people on Internet (or real life) really gets on my nerves. Annoying sound of motorbikes and babies crying too.
The website with short listening exercises and expressions is pretty nice! The
Scottish accent is the hardest :/ Just an observation: the last exercise could have the meaning of ASAP (as soon as possible, right?)
Reply
1. Chris Bargery
  February 20, 2019
  Hi Aline! Excellent examples, well done. A couple of corrections:
  1) When we are talking about ‘knowing’ something for the first time, we would use a verb like ‘to discover sth’, ‘ to realise sth’ or a phrasal verb – ‘to find sth out’. So your sentence could be: “…when I found out that the price of bus tickets would be increased”.
  5) In this example, I would say “I needed” not “I’ve needed” because the action and time period you are referring to is finished (because you couldn’t get hold of your sister).
  6) We always say ‘the internet’. Also, careful with ‘people’ – this word is plural in English, so your example should be: “ignorant people on the internet really get on my nerves”.
  By the way, you’re correct: ASAP = as soon as possible 🙂
  And I’m really glad you like MicroEnglish!
  Reply
Sol
February 21, 2019
A different accent from those I have heart before.Quite interesting!!!!!!
.I like to learn a bit more each time …The more you learn ,the more you can feel well prepared.
Thanks for sharing.
Reply
1. Chris Bargery
  February 21, 2019
  Thanks Sol! You’re welcome 🙂
  Reply
2. Sol
  February 21, 2019
  My practise.
  I really didn’t get to know her at all.
  In spite of triying to get hold with her at the office,I think I rather get on her nerves,because she was vey introvert and got a shock when I told her about my private life…When she knew I was a former prisioner,she wanted to get rid of me.
  I think people never allow me to get the chance to show my change.
  Reply
  1. Chris Bargery
    February 22, 2019
    Well done Sol! This way of practising (combining several items of vocabulary in one example) is an excellent way of memorising new language.
    A couple of corrections:
    – I think near the beginning you are thinking of ‘to get on with sb’ (to have a good relationship with sb). To get hold of sb = to succeed in making contact with sb.
    – Careful with the verb ‘know’ – when we talk about ‘knowing’ something for the first time, we use a verb like ‘to discover’, ‘to realise’ or a phrasal verb – ‘to find sth out’.
    – Your last sentence would sound more natural with the expression ‘to give sb the chance to do sth’: “people never give me the chance to show that I have changed”.
    – Careful with spelling (trying, introverted, prisoner).
    Well done!
    Reply

7 expressions with get
Idioms | B1