get at

British  

verb

1. to gain access to

   the dog could not get at the meat on the high shelf

2. to mean or intend

   what are you getting at when you look at me like that?

3. to irritate or annoy persistently; criticize

   she is always getting at him

4. to influence or seek to influence, esp illegally by bribery, intimidation, etc

   someone had got at the witness before the trial

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get at Idioms  

1. Touch, reach successfully, as in Mom hid the peanut butter so we couldn't get at it . [Late 1700s]

2. Try to make understandable; hint at or suggest. For example, I think I see what you're getting at . [Late 1800s]

3. Discover, learn, ascertain, as in We must get at the facts of the case . [Late 1700s]

4. Bribe or influence by improper or illegal means, as in He got at the judge, and the charges were dismissed . [ Colloquial ; mid-1800s]

5. Start on, begin work on, attend to, as in “Get at your canvassing early, and drive it with all your might” (Mark Twain, letter to his publishers, 1884). [ Colloquial ; late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

get at

Travelers who hold United’s co-branded cards now get at least 10% off every ticket they book with miles or points under a new policy that began in April.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

YouTube, websites, podcasts, work—anything I tried worked smoothly, and the speed was, frankly, better than I get at home.

From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026

Earlier this week, the government detailed changes to the deal, with Australia to buy three second-hand submarines from the US, replacing a former agreement that Australia would get at least one new vessel.

From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026

I can hear the record at home — what I don’t get at home is a sense of the person.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026

Some of the more agile ones tried climbing to get at her.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

Related Words

• ascertain
• get hold of