To get at something means to succeed in reaching it.
A goat was standing up against a tree on its hind legs, trying to get at the leaves. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
2. phrasal verb
If you get at the truth about something, you succeed in discovering it.
We want to get at the truth. Who killed him? And why? [VERBPARTICLE noun]
3. phrasal verb
If you get at someone, you keep criticizing or teasing them in an unkind way.
[British, informal]
They don't like my moustache and my long hair, they get at me whenever they can. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
4. phrasal verb [usually cont]
If you ask someone what they are getting at, you are asking them to explain what they mean, usually because you think that they are being unpleasant or are suggesting something that is untrue.
'What are you getting at now?' demanded Rick. [VERBPARTICLE]
More Synonyms of get at
See full dictionary entry for get
get at in British English
verb(intr, preposition)
1.
to gain access to
the dog could not get at the meat on the high shelf
2.
to mean or intend
what are you getting at when you look at me like that?
3.
to irritate or annoy persistently; criticize
she is always getting at him
4.
to influence or seek to influence, esp illegally by bribery, intimidation, etc
someone had got at the witness before the trial
get at in American English
1.
to approach or reach
2. US
to apply oneself to (work, etc.)
3.
to find out
4.
to imply or suggest
5. Informal
to influence by bribery or intimidation
See full dictionary entry for get
Examples of 'get at' in a sentence
get at
Nurses, doctors, patients - he'd carve his way through all of them to get at me.
Pritchard, John NIGHT SISTERS (2001)
Of course, there were any number of ways to get at Cratyn, the easiest target being the hapless Lady Chastity.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)
Frido tried to organize a movement against two of the nearest of the bunkers, but they were difficult to get at.
Townsend, Eileen IN LOVE AND WAR (2001)
He couldn't begin to get at Ruhr, who had disappeared without the courtesy of a clue.
Armstrong, Campbell MAMBO (2001)
Chinese translation of 'get at'
get at
(Brit) (inf)
vt fus
(= attack, criticize) 不断(斷)指责(責) (bùduàn zhǐzé)
you're always getting at me你总(總)是数(數)落我 (nǐ zǒngshì shǔluò wǒ)
(= reach) 够(夠)着(著) (gòuzháo)
⇒ We want to get at the truth.我们想了解真相。 (Wǒmen xiǎng liǎojiě zhēnxiàng.)
(= insinuate)
what are you getting at?你讲(講)这(這)话(話)什么(麼)意思？ (nǐ jiǎng zhè huà shénme yìsi?)
See get
Nearby words of
get at
get along
get around
get around to
get at
get away
get away with
get back
All related terms of 'get at'
get back at
▶ to get back at sb (for sth) (因某事)对(對)某人进(進)行报(報)复(復) (yīn mǒushì) duì mǒurén jìnxíng bàofù
to get a look at sth/sb
看看某物/某人 kànkan mǒuwù/mǒurén
we get three days off at Christmas
圣(聖)诞(誕)节(節)时(時)我们(們)放了3天假 Shèngdàn Jié shí wǒmen fàngle sān tiān jià
get up to
( prank etc ) 搞 gǎo ⇒ What has he been getting up to? → 他在搞什么花样？ Tā zài gǎo shénme huāyàng?
( person : travel ) 旅行 lǚxíng (: move about ) 各处(處)走动(動) gèchù zǒudòng ▶ I can't get about as much as I used to 我不能再像我过(過)去那样(樣)到处(處)走动(動)了 wǒ bùnéng zài xiàng wǒ guòqù nàyàng dàochù zǒudòng le