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get at — 2 meanings

One phrase, 2 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb2 meanings
get at
suggest or implyreach

Meaning 1 · most common

suggest or imply

  • get at sth
In an office kitchen, a colleague hints at something and a woman tries to work out what he means.

to try to say or suggest something without saying it directly.

How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inMostly spoken

Examples

I’m not sure what you’re getting at—can you explain more clearly?

A: Are you saying I made a mistake?
B: No, that’s not what I’m getting at.

Common mistake

Not: What do you get at?

Say: What are you getting at?

This sense is usually in the continuous: 'what are you getting at?'.

More on “suggest or imply”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In the discussion, the speaker was getting at the idea that technology can sometimes make life more complicated.

Tell it apart

What are you getting at?

  • what are you implying?

What are you looking at?

  • what are you viewing?

Goes with

  • what + getting at
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Next meaning: reach

Meaning 2

reach

  • get at sth
A scene showing “get at” meaning “reach something hard to get to”.

to be able to reach or access something, especially something difficult to get to.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inMostly spoken

Examples

The files are stored so high up that I can’t get at them without a ladder.

A: Where’s the sugar?
B: It’s at the back of the cupboard—I can’t get at it.

Common mistake

Not: I can't get at to the top shelf.

Say: I can't get at the top shelf.

'Get at' takes the object directly — no 'to'.

More on “reach”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Sometimes, important information is hard to get at if it’s hidden deep in a website.

Tell it apart

I can't get at the box under the bed.

  • reach it

What are you getting at?

  • implying / suggesting

Goes with

  • get at + object
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suggest or implyreach