Meaning trap
get through
make phone contact
To succeed in making contact with someone by phone.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To succeed in making contact with someone by phone.
Another meaning of 'get through' is 'finish a difficult task'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
I tried calling her all morning but couldn't get through.
Sometimes it's difficult to get through to customer service during busy hours.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: I called all day but couldn't get through the office.
Say: I called all day but couldn't get through to the office.
To reach a person by phone, it's 'get through TO' them. Without 'to', it means finish a task.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Get through to' is the natural phrase for reaching someone by phone; 'establish telephone contact' is bureaucratic.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
get through to + person
- to the office
- to her
- to support
- on the phone
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- get through (finish a difficult task) — Another meaning of 'get through' is 'finish a difficult task'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.