get rid of

Idioms  

1. Also, be rid of. Eliminate, discard, or free oneself from. For example, It's time we got rid of these old newspapers, or He kept calling for months, but now we're finally rid of him. The first expression dates from the mid-1600s, the second from the 1400s. Also see get out of, def. 5.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

get rid of

“It is a pretty stiff penalty. You’ve got a problem, just pay it off and get rid of it,” Durbin said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

While paintings are still taken, they're harder to sell, so around 10 years ago, thieves began shifting to goods that are easier to get rid of, Brand says.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

“I’ve got great reservations and deep doubts about the effect of the new plan to get rid of all parking and choke traffic down to one lane,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

The seller wanted to get rid of the property quickly, so Charles and his real-estate agent negotiated the sale price down to $80,000.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026

It wasn’t my idea to include Kermit, but I couldn’t get rid of him because he was my brother and I had to watch him anyway.

From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm

Related Words

• dispose of
• dump
• eliminate
• remove