Lesson 3A · New English File Advanced Vocabulary List

to reach a location, particularly as an end to a journey

"Passengers arrive at the airport early."

"The train is expected to arrive at the station at exactly nine o'clock so please do not be late for your important appointment."

to make a person do something through reasoning or other methods

"She tried to persuade her friend."

"The salesman tried to persuade the customer to buy the more expensive model by highlighting its additional features."

to manage to meet someone in person or contact them on a telephone, through message, etc.

"I am trying to get hold of my doctor."

"I have been trying to get hold of my doctor all morning but his phone line is always busy."

to become involved in a problematic or difficult situation, often as a result of one's actions or decisions

"He got into trouble."

"If you continue to break the rules, you are going to get into trouble with the principal."

to seek to harm or punish someone who has wronged or harmed one

"He wants his own back."

"After months of planning, she finally got her own back on the colleague who betrayed her."

to put aside or remove a person or thing in order to no longer have them present or involved

"I need to get rid of this old chair."

"I need to get rid of all these old clothes that I never wear anymore."

to have the opportunity to do something, or to be in a situation where one is able to do something

"I never got the chance to say goodbye."

"I will travel around the world if I ever get the chance to take a year off work."

to understand the humor or irony behind a joke or a humorous situation

"It took me a minute to get the joke."

"She did not get the joke because she had never heard of the famous actor it referred to."

to fail to understand or interpret or understand something correctly

"You got wrong end."

"I think you have got the wrong end of the stick because I never said anything like that."

to become familiar with someone or something by spending time with them and learning about them

"I want to get to know my neighbors."

"I would like to get to know my neighbours better so I invited them for dinner on Saturday."

to no longer be unrealistic, foolish, or unreasonable

"You need to get real and find a job."

"You need to get real about your chances of becoming a famous singer without any talent or training."

used to tell someone to change their life style and start doing more exciting or important things

"Get a life now!"

"Instead of constantly complaining about others, you should really get a life and find some hobbies."

to make progress or achieve success, especially when facing difficulties or obstacles

"Study hard to get somewhere in life."

"We are not getting anywhere with this argument so let us just agree to disagree calmly."

to make someone really mad by constantly doing something that angers or annoys them

"That loud music is getting on my nerves."

"The constant sound of the construction work outside is starting to get on my nerves."

to start to organize oneself for better results and more efficiency

"He needs to get his act together at work."

"He needs to get his act together and start arriving on time if he wants to keep his job."

used to describe a situation or activity that is developing with great intensity, speed, and success

"The two friends got on like a house on fire."

"The two new colleagues got on like a house on fire and became best friends very quickly."

to do something more quickly in order not to be late

"We need to get a move on, or we will be late."

"We need to get a move on because the train leaves in twenty minutes and we are still at home."

to understand the implied meaning behind an action or statement

"I told him to leave, and he finally got the message."

"He did not call me back so I finally got the message that he is not interested in dating me."

to get or do what one wants despite the odds or other people's desires

"The child always gets his own way."

"The spoiled child always gets his own way because his parents never say no to him."

to successfully communicate a message or idea to someone in a way that they understand or accept it

"I cannot get through to him."

"The teacher struggled to get through to the troubled student who seemed to have given up on his education."

to escape punishment for one's wrong actions

"He got away with it."

"The thief tried to get away with the stolen goods but was caught by security."

to be capable of living or doing something using the available resources, knowledge, money, etc.

"She gets by on a small salary."

"It is difficult to get by on a low salary in an expensive city like New York or London."

to receive or come to have something

"I get a present."

"She was thrilled to finally get the promotion she had been working towards for so long."

to start or grow to be

"She wants to become a teacher."

"He wants to become a pilot when he grows up and fly airplanes all over the world."

to get something, often with difficulty

"He managed to obtain a visa."

"It can be difficult to obtain a visa for some countries without providing extensive documentation about your travel plans."

a suitable marriage candidate

"He is a match."

"After numerous unsuccessful introductions, she finally found a suitable match in her new neighbor."

worried and anxious about something or slightly afraid of it

"She is nervous."

"She felt nervous before her job interview because she really wanted the position and was afraid of failing."

at a place that is not where the speaker is

"The store is there."

"The store is over there on the corner so you can walk there in about five minutes."

someone we like and trust

"My best friend and I play football every weekend."

"A friend is a person with whom one shares a bond of mutual affection and trust"

in a position, state, or place that would not cause problems for others

"Get out of the way."

"The construction crew worked diligently to clear the debris and get the road out of the way."

to meet up with someone in order to cooperate or socialize

"Let's get together this weekend."

"The whole family plans to get together for a reunion next summer after being apart for many years."

to recover from an unpleasant or unhappy experience, particularly an illness

"She got over her fear of flying."

"It took her a long time to get over the death of her beloved pet cat."

to be close to reaching a particular age

"It is getting on for midnight."

"It is getting on for midnight so we should probably start cleaning up and getting ready for bed."

to persuade someone or something to agree to what one wants, often by doing things they like

"He got around the rules."

"It is easy to get around the city using the efficient public transportation system."

to not succeed in doing something within the expected or required time limit

"We got behind."

"Due to unexpected delays in production, the project is starting to get behind schedule."

to bring a thing or person to a position that is less high

"Get down the box."

"He had to get down the heavy trunk from the attic using a pulley system."

to leave somewhere such as a room, building, etc.

"They get out of the building safely."

"The firefighters helped the terrified family get out of the burning building through a window on the second floor."

to contact someone again later to provide a response or reply, often after taking time to consider or research the matter

"I will get back to you soon."

"I will get back to you with an answer as soon as I have more information about the problem."