get physical

Idioms

Make physical contact, either forcefully or sexually. For example, Stop pushing—there's no need to get physical, or Thirteen is too young to get physical in that way. [Slang; second half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Canada will grab and jostle the U.S., get physical and hope to throw off their mojo.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

There was a "verbal fight", the star said - but she insisted it "didn't get physical".

From BBC • Aug. 29, 2025

“No,” replied Cardi B, who insisted it was a “verbal fight. ... It did not get physical at all.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 27, 2025

“We knew they were going to try to come out in the third quarter and get physical with us and affect us a little bit,” Wizards interim coach Brian Keefe said.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2024

He’s not going one hundred percent and doesn’t get physical with anyone.

From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023