get through — 5 meanings

One phrase, 5 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb5 meanings

get through

finish a difficult task survive a hard period make phone contact use all of something emotionally reach

Meaning 1 · most common

finish a difficult task

get through sth

A woman leans back at her desk with her arms raised beside a tall stack of finished, ticked-off papers.

To finish something that is hard or takes a lot of effort.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

I finally got through all my homework before midnight.

A: How was your day?
B: Exhausting! I just got through that huge report at work.

Common mistake

Not: I need to get through ~~with~~ this report by five.

Say: I need to get through this report by five.

'Get through' a task takes the object directly — 'get through with' is non-standard here.

More on “finish a difficult task”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

During exam season, I have to get through a lot of reading every week.

Tell it apart

I finally got through my inbox.

finished the demanding task

I got through to customer service.

reached them by phone

Goes with

get through + workload

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Next meaning: survive a hard period

Meaning 2

survive a hard period

get through sth

To manage to live or deal with a difficult or unpleasant time.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

She got through the illness with the support of her friends.

A: How did you get through last winter?
B: It was tough, but I stayed positive and kept busy.

Common mistake

Not: I couldn't get through ~~with~~ such a hard week without you.

Say: I couldn't get through such a hard week without you.

'Get through' a hard time takes the object directly — no 'with'.

More on “survive a hard period”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Many people find it hard to get through stressful times without help.

Tell it apart

We got through a hard year together.

survived it

We get through a lot of coffee.

use it all up

Goes with

get through + hard time

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Next meaning: make phone contact

Meaning 3

make phone contact

get through to sb

To succeed in making contact with someone by phone.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

I tried calling her all morning but couldn't get through.

A: Did you talk to your boss?
B: Not yet. I can't get through to her office line.

Common mistake

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.

More on “make phone contact”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Sometimes it's difficult to get through to customer service during busy hours.

Tell it apart

I finally got through to them after an hour on hold.

reached them by phone

I got through the whole to-do list.

finished the task

Goes with

get through to + person

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Next meaning: use all of something

Meaning 4

use all of something

get through sth

To use or finish the whole amount of something, especially faster than expected.

How oftenNow and then

LevelB2

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

We got through all the snacks before the movie even started.

A: Do we have any paper left?
B: No, we got through the last pack yesterday.

Common mistake

Not: We get through ~~with~~ a lot of paper.

Say: We get through a lot of paper.

'Get through' takes the amount directly — no 'with'.

More on “use all of something”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Students often get through a lot of coffee during exam week.

Tell it apart

We get through a loaf of bread a day.

use it all up

We got through a tough week.

survived a hard time

Goes with

get through + quantity

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Next meaning: emotionally reach

Meaning 5

emotionally reach

get through to sb

To succeed in making someone understand or be emotionally affected by what you are saying or doing, especially when it is difficult for them to accept or respond.

How oftenNow and then

LevelC1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't get through to her teenage son.

A: I've explained it so many times, but he still doesn't seem to care.
B: Sometimes it's really hard to get through to people when they're upset.

Common mistake

Not: I can't get through him.

Say: I can't get through to him.

For reaching someone emotionally, you need 'get through TO' them.

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

Another example

In some cases, teachers struggle to get through to students who are disengaged, despite using a variety of teaching methods.

Tell it apart

Nothing I say gets through to her.

reaches her emotionally

I finally got through to her on the phone.

reached her by phone

Goes with

get through to + person

Practice saying this

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finish a difficult task survive a hard period make phone contact use all of something emotionally reach