AAAmerican Accent US

get at

Inseparable

The verb and particle never split. The object always follows the whole phrase.

How to say it

Stress the particle, not the verb: get AT. Saying “GET at” is the clearest learner tell — the verb stays light and the particle carries the beat.

The /t/ flaps. Between vowels, American /t/ and /d/ both become a quick tap, so “get at” comes out as “ge-dat” — closer to a fast D than a T.

2 meanings

1
To suggest something indirectly.
- “What exactly are you getting at?”
- “I couldn't tell what she was getting at.”
Similar: imply, insinuate
2
To reach something.
- “The files are locked away and I can't get at them.”
Similar: reach, access

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More GET phrasal verbs

Compare the whole family →

get up

To rise from bed, or to stand up.

get along

To have a friendly relationship with someone.

get over

To recover from an illness, a shock or an upset.

get through

To survive or endure a difficult period to its end.

get by

To survive or manage with barely enough.

get rid of

To remove or dispose of something unwanted.

get away

To escape.

get away with

To do something wrong and escape the consequences.

get back

To return to a place.

get back at

To take revenge on someone.

get in

To enter a car or a small enclosed space.

get out

To leave a car or a building.

get at — meaning, examples & how to say it