AAAmerican Accent US

get rid of

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 RID OF. Saying “GET rid of” is the clearest learner tell — the verb stays light and the particle carries the beat.

Do not release the /t/. Before the consonant of “rid of” the stop is held and swallowed rather than popped — the same unreleased-stop move as in hot dog. One smooth unit: “get rid of”.

What it means

  1. To remove or dispose of something unwanted.

    • “How can I get rid of this annoying pop-up on my computer?”
    • “We got rid of the old sofa when we moved.”

    Similar: dispose of, eliminate

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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 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 out of

To avoid a duty you were supposed to do.

get rid of — meaning, examples & how to say it