get at
Third Person
gets at
Present Participle
getting at
Past Tense
got at
Past Participle
gotten at
1
to cause irritation or annoyance to someone
transitive
- The constant noise from the construction site next door really gets at me.
- His habit of tapping his pen on the desk during meetings gets at everyone in the room.
- Her persistent questions about my personal life really get at me.
- The buzzing mosquito in the room is getting at me; I can't concentrate.
- He’s always trying to get at me with those little comments.
2
to reach an understanding of something through questioning, investigation, or analysis
transitive
- I can't quite get at what the author is trying to say in this book.
- She's always so secretive; it's hard to get at her true feelings.
- To solve the puzzle, you need to get at the hidden clues.
- We need to get at the truth of the matter to resolve this dispute.
3
to be able to have access to or reach something
transitive
- The key to the safe was lost, so they couldn't get at the valuable documents inside.
- I can't seem to get at the back of the cupboard; it's too cluttered.
- I need to get at that old book on the top shelf.
- He couldn't get at his email because he forgot the password.
Synonyms:
4
to try to bribe or corrupt someone in power
transitive
- The company executives tried to get at the politicians by offering bribes for favorable legislation.
- Corrupt officials often get at law enforcement agencies to avoid prosecution.
- The investigation revealed that some individuals had been trying to get at the judge involved in the case.
- Corruption scandals can tarnish reputations when it's discovered that individuals tried to get at those in power.
5
to contact or reach someone, especially when this is difficult or requires some effort
transitive
- I've been trying to get at my old friend from college, but his phone number has changed.
- She's in a remote area, and it's hard to get at her through conventional means of communication.
- If you can't reach me by email, try to get at me through my office phone.
- It's important to get at the client as soon as possible to discuss the changes to the project.
6
to criticize or attack someone, usually in a subtle or indirect manner
transitive
- He started to get at his opponent's weaknesses during the debate.
- The critics didn't hesitate to get at the flaws in the movie.
- The opposing team's coach didn't hold back; he really got at our team's performance.
- He didn't appreciate the way his colleagues were getting at his work ethics during the meeting.