get round to: meaning and explanation
to get round/around to something = to do something which you had been planning to do or wanted to do for a while.
If you finally get round to doing something, it means that you had wanted or needed to do something for a while, and eventually found the time to do it. e.g. I finally got round to fixing that dripping tap.
This expression is often used negatively when you are explaining that you didn't have time do do something, e.g. I didn't get round to taking the dog for a walk = I was planning on taking the dog for a walk, but I didn't have time or had too many other things to do.
Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?
Listening exercises
Dictation #1
Accent: Scotland
About the sentence
...I should have done them months ago...
The structure should have + past participle is used to communicate a regret about something you did or didn't do in the past. e.g. I should have gone to bed earlier last night - I feel exhausted..
Dictation #2
Accent: North America
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Dictation #3
Accent: Ireland
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About the sentence
...it wasn't really my kind of thing...
Saying that something isn't really your kind of thing is a more indirect (and possibly more polite) way of saying that you don't like something. e.g. Musicals aren't really my kind of thing, but thanks for the invitation.
Well, I never get round to transplanting vases)
From my childhood I had wanted to fly on a baloon and few years ago I finally got round to doing it 🙂 Actually, we just get up and down, but it was enough for me as I was so afraid of high! 🙂
Thanks Tanya!
Good example – I’ve never been up in a balloon (note the spelling). Hopefully one day 🙂
I would say: “Actually we just went up and down…”
And at the end, you could either say: “It was enough for me as I am so afraid of heights” (if you have a general fear/phobia of heights) or “I was so afraid of being high up” (if you were only afraid in that specific moment”.
Well done!
Hello)
– Yes, there is. There is a Christmas tree (faux) waiting to be packted. I feel that next Christmas will come sooner than I finally get round to packing it:)
– I”ve been dreaming of driving a car and finally I got round to driving school, passed the exams and got the driver’s license.
Hi Mariwa 🙂
Excellent examples, well done. One tiny correction – careful with the spelling of packed.
Congratulations on getting your license!
I didn’t get round to going to the bank. I hope I do it next week
Thanks Aline 🙂
Your example is fine, but I would suggest using the structure ‘to hope to do something’. This structure can be used when the two subjects are the same (e.g. I hope I, or he hopes he), and it also communicates the idea of a plan or intention. So you could say – “I hope to do it next week”.
I haven’t got round to painting the apartment, the paint was bought two months ago, though.
I had been putting off a report at work, I got round to outlining it last weekend. I hope to finish it by next weekend.
Good examples Ivan.
Be careful with your use of commas (this is actually very difficult!). An important rule to remember is: don’t use a comma to connect two sentences that could exist as a sentence on their own. In these cases, you need to use 2 separate sentences OR a conjunction (e.g. and, but, so etc) OR a semicolon (;). So looking at your second example, it should be: I had been putting off a report at work, but I got round to outlining it last weekend.
This kind of mistake is called a comma splice – if you are interested you can read more here. Remember, this is only important if writing in English is a priority for you – don’t worry too much if it isn’t 🙂
After putting off some chores like doing the laundry and the housework for at least 2 weeks ago, I finally got around to doing all of them.