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get at

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get at someone

Fig. to find a way to irritate someone; to manage to wound someone, physically or emotionally. (See also get at someone or an animal.) Mr. Smith found a way to get at his wife. John kept trying to get at his teacher.

See also: get

get at (someone or an animal)

Fig. to attack or strike someone or an animal. The cat jumped over the wall to get at the mouse. Ok, you guys. There he is. Get at him!

See also: get

get at something

 

1. Fig. to explain or understand something. We spent a long time trying to get at the answer. I can't understand what you're trying to get at.

2. Fig. begin doing something. (See also Have at it!) I won't be able to get at it until the weekend. I'll get at it first thing in the morning.

See also: get

get at something

(spoken)

1. to say or suggest something in an indirect way What is he trying to get at? Is he saying I don't work hard?

2. to find or understand something They are trying to get at the truth by interviewing anyone who saw her before she disappeared.

See also: get

get at

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]

See also: get

get at

v.

1. To reach something or someone: The cat hid where we couldn't get at it.

2. To annoy or bother someone: The noise from the construction site is really getting at me.

3. To express or try to express something; hint at something: The way you've phrased this doesn't get at the main point. I don't know what you're getting at.

4. To discover or understand something: We finally got at the cause of the problem.

5. Slang To bribe or influence by improper or illegal means: He got at the judge, and the charges were dismissed.

See also: get