Game for learners of English - Get

Question

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Great idea Billygoat - ian-hill, Oct 19, 2011

Billy, thanks a loooooooot !!!! :) Should I write the spanish version too? :D - PrincessMariam, Oct 19, 2011

If you want to my dear. I just want to try and help people understand how we use 'get' in English conversations - billygoat, Oct 19, 2011

:) - cogumela, Oct 19, 2011

Nice idea Billy - Yeser007, Oct 19, 2011

Sorry Billy I'm not sure WE (not us) English speakers etc.... - FELIZ77, Oct 20, 2011

You certainly picked an excellent topic!! - territurtle, Oct 20, 2011

Hi Feliz. Thank you for your comment, I agree 'we' sounds better. However, I've trawled google and can't find a grammar rule to say 'we' rather than 'us'. The only thing I have found is in a google fight 'us English speakers' has more hits than 'we Eng - billygoat, Oct 21, 2011

English speakers'! - billygoat, Oct 21, 2011

thoughtful example Billy - mikecarroll, Oct 21, 2011

Answer 1

Expression:

I get that a lot.

Examples:

—Has anyone ever told you that you could be an actor/model/etc?
—Yeah. I get that a lot.

—Oh, I'm sorry! I mistook you for somebody else.
—That's ok. I get that a lot.

Alternatives:

?That happens to me a lot.

?People tell me that all the time/I am told that often.

After looking at the other responses, I'm not sure if this is the format you were looking for - Izanoni1, Oct 19, 2011

thats brilliant Izanoni. The real objective (thoughIi'm not sure I explained it too well lol) is to illustrate how we use 'get' - billygoat, Oct 19, 2011

Great...I've mistaken you for a model often, Ira. - --Mariana--, Oct 19, 2011

It must be the banjo ;) - Izanoni1, Oct 19, 2011

This is, precisely, one of those sentences that I'd find hard to "get" :) - cogumela, Oct 19, 2011

Answer 2

Get a life!

Anda, ¡búscate algo que hacer!

When somebody is really annoying and goes on and on about something, we just tell him to go find something to do, get a life in real life)

This expression is also often used when the person being addressed is viewed as being meddlesome or intrusive - Izanoni1, Oct 19, 2011

muy bien bonita :) - billygoat, Oct 19, 2011

yeah, izan, they say this to me all the time, jeje - 00494d19, Oct 19, 2011

Jeje...I assume that means that you "get that a lot?" - Izanoni1, Oct 19, 2011

Izan very true :) - FELIZ77, Oct 20, 2011

indeed, jeje, I get that a lot:P lol - 00494d19, Oct 22, 2011

Answer 3

Can you believe it? He got sacked! (He was fired)

No te lo vas a creer ¡Lo despidieron!

jeje perfecto mi amiga :) - billygoat, Oct 19, 2011

Excellent example ,Cogu:) - FELIZ77, Oct 20, 2011

Me gusta tu frase. :) - EL_MAG0, Oct 21, 2011

Answer 4

The only way to get across the lake is by boat.

La única forma de cruzar el lago es en barco.

Ian, you are sure coming up with brilliant examples! - territurtle, Oct 20, 2011

Thankyou - ian-hill, Oct 20, 2011

Answer 5

I got home at midnight.

I arrived home at midnight.

Llegué a casa a medianoche

thanks ian - billygoat, Oct 19, 2011

great example Ian :) Since when Have you been learning English ? lol I thought that the Spanish natives/or people learning English were supposed to be trying to write these ? lol - FELIZ77, Oct 20, 2011

I think billy wants us natives to help the Spanish speakers learning English. - ian-hill, Oct 20, 2011

Ah I seeIan I thought we were going to help by correcting posts but I see we are teaching by example :) - FELIZ77, Oct 20, 2011

Answer 6

Expression:

Something really got to me.

Example:

That movie really got to me

Alternatively:

That movie really made me think.

That movie really made me contemplate life.

That movie really made me emotional. (i.e. "got to my emotions" or "tugged at my heart strings").

Good one. - annierats, Oct 19, 2011

Hm... in Spanish from Spain: La película me llegó/ me pegó fuerte/me tocó la fibra. - cogumela, Oct 19, 2011

"Me pegó fuerte" and "me tocó la fibra" could also probably be translated to equally colloquial expressions such as "it really hit me hard" and "knocked me for a loop," or "it really struck a nerve" and "it really touched me" - Izanoni1, Oct 19, 2011

Answer 7

I don't know how you always get away with cheating in the exams!

I don't know how you always manage to cheat in the exams without being noticed!

¡No sé cómo siempre te las arreglas para salirte con la tuya haciendo trampas en los exámenes!

---

(A bit hard, I can't think of a synonym)

Billy, I'm finding this thread to be very useful

good one :) - ian-hill, Oct 20, 2011

Brilliant! Your example was perfect. Interestingly, if you "get away with something" it means that you did not "get caught." - Izanoni1, Oct 20, 2011

It may be that you were looking for a less wordy synonym to put here, and if this were the case, then I suppose you could replace the expression "get away with" with something like "escape detection when," but in all honesty, your original idea was in no - Izanoni1, Oct 20, 2011

...need of alteration. That is, it was perfect :) - Izanoni1, Oct 20, 2011

Cogumela, it's perfect. That's what we say, there is no synonym! - annierats, Oct 21, 2011

jeje Cogu - good :) - billygoat, Oct 21, 2011

loooool. This is exactly what I usually think after exams about some persons!! :D Now I know how to say that in english. jejeje - PrincessMariam, Oct 21, 2011

Answer 8

Expression: There is often one person in your environment who gets to you all the time.

Example: There is often one person in your environment who irritates you all the time.

Spanish: A menudo hay una persona en tu ambiente quien te molesta todo el tiempo.

Yes, so true! - --Mariana--, Oct 19, 2011

excellent Princess :) - billygoat, Oct 19, 2011

Really?!!!!!! T H A N K Y O U !!!!! - PrincessMariam, Oct 19, 2011

You might also change the expression "in your environment" with "in your life" - Izanoni1, Oct 19, 2011

@Izanoni, thanks for giving me another option :) - PrincessMariam, Oct 19, 2011

Answer 9

English: Get lost!

Español: ¡Lárgate!

This is said with an attitude to someone you don't like. You can say it in a playful manner to a friend.

Well thanks Mariana, it was only a suggestion ;) - billygoat, Oct 19, 2011

Jejeje! - --Mariana--, Oct 19, 2011

Billgoat, what did I say about the smell? Get it now? - annierats, Oct 19, 2011

Answer 10

Get well soon! Recover soon!

Well done, ianta! - Izanoni1, Oct 19, 2011

Nice one ianta. Have you been to England yet? - billygoat, Oct 19, 2011

Yes Billy and it's great! Read my post at the Int. Cafe. - ianta, Oct 19, 2011

Gracias - ianta, Oct 19, 2011

Answer 11

I just called Dad and he's really upset at you. Your'e gonna get it(1) when he gets(2) home tonight. Listen to what he's got(3) to say first before reacting. Got it?(4)

(1) Be screamed at (2) Comes (3) Has (4) Understand?

fantastic example :) - billygoat, Oct 19, 2011

Answer 12

Get on with it!

Forget about what just happened and move forward from this point.

Answer 13

English: I am going to get ready for the party at eight o'clock.

Español: Voy a arreglarme para la fiesta a las ocho.

Thats a good one Mariana. Is there a better alternative in this context? I'm not sure, 'dress for the party....." perhaps? - billygoat, Oct 19, 2011

No..."get ready" is very common, e.g., "You need to get ready before 8" etc. - --Mariana--, Oct 19, 2011

yes, I agree :) - billygoat, Oct 19, 2011

Hmm...you mean in Spanish then? "Arreglarme" is common (and includes putting on makeup, etc.), so is "vestirme" but this only means to dress. - --Mariana--, Oct 19, 2011

Answer 14

Great idea Billy! Let me start with this one- Where ****can I find** a nice Latin club in this area? ¿Dónde puedo conseguir un club nocturno latino chévere en esta área?

Hmm...generally we'd say "Where can I find a nice Latin Club." - --Mariana--, Oct 19, 2011

Good one Coffee! 'find' would be a much better alternative - billygoat, Oct 19, 2011

Gracias! - 00a4c226, Oct 19, 2011

Your;e asking to be clubbed, i.e. attacked with a blunt, wooden instrument, I hope this is what you want? - annierats, Oct 19, 2011

I guess I didn´t get it. - 00a4c226, Oct 19, 2011

Answer 15

Expression:

The criminals made a clean get-away in a helicopter. The police got confused and lost the plot.

Alternative: The criminals escaped unhindered. The police got muddled.

Spanish version: Los ladrones se han escapado en helicóptero. La policia se ha hecho un lío. ( This can be improved on, I think, help, please)

... escapado en helicóptero ( The rest is perfect and natural) - cogumela, Oct 21, 2011

Oh, amazing, maybe I'm getting there? - annierats, Oct 21, 2011