GET AT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does get at mean? 

• GET AT (verb)
  The verb GET AT has 3 senses:

1. reach or gain access to

2. influence by corruption

3. cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations

  Familiarity information: GET AT used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GET AT (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Reach or gain access to

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

access; get at

Context example:

I cannot get to the T.V. antenna, even if I climb on the roof

Hypernyms (to "get at" is one way to...):

arrive at; attain; gain; hit; make; reach (reach a destination, either real or abstract)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Influence by corruption

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "get at" is one way to...):

act upon; influence; work (have and exert influence or effect)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

annoy; bother; chafe; devil; get at; get to; gravel; irritate; nark; nettle; rag; rile; vex

Context example:

It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves

Hypernyms (to "get at" is one way to...):

displease (give displeasure to)

Verb group:

chafe (feel extreme irritation or anger)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get at"):

get; get under one's skin (irritate)

eat into; fret; grate; rankle (gnaw into; make resentful or angry)

peeve (cause to be annoyed, irritated, or resentful)

ruffle (trouble or vex)

fret (cause annoyance in)

beset; chevvy; chevy; chivvy; chivy; harass; harry; hassle; molest; plague; provoke (annoy continually or chronically)

antagonise; antagonize (provoke the hostility of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

 Context examples 

How do you get at that?

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I tried last night to get at these logbooks, but was unable to open the door.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Well, what I was trying to get at was what had become of them. I was wondering if you had heard. They left no trace, hide nor hair.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

I wish I could get at what is the object of the latter.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“A fairly complete record, Watson! If we could only get at the man at the other end!”

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Your education has been what you could get at a village school.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Children must get at least some vaccines before they may attend school.

(Childhood Immunization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

I asked, as the shortest way to get at it, what he WAS doing.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

When his master had gone out, White Fang turned loose and tore around the pen, trying to get at the men outside.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Once again we were able to visit our camp and get at our stores.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)