get at
[verb]
Synonyms:
- gain access to, acquire, attain, come to grips with, get hold of, reach
- imply, hint, intend, lead up to, mean, suggest
- criticize, attack, blame, find fault with, nag, pick on

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

get at somebody/something phrasal verb (see also get)

1. CRITICIZE to keep criticizing someone in an unkind way:
Why is he always getting at me?
He felt he was being got at by the other students.

2. be getting at something to be trying to say something in a way that is difficult for other people to understand:
What are you getting at, Helen?
Do you see the point I’m getting at?

3. REACH to be able to reach something:
We had to move the washing machine out to get at the wiring behind it.

4. INFORMATION to discover information, especially the truth about a situation:
I was determined to get at the truth.

5. THREATEN informal to use threats to influence the decision of people who are involved in a court case:
Do you think some of the jury have been got at?

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

get at
1. • get at (something)
to mean something
I do not know what the man was trying to get at during the meeting.

2. • get at (someone or something)
to attack or hit someone or something
Our dog tried to get at the other dog.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

get at something
1. • get at (something)
to mean something
I do not know what the man was trying to get at during the meeting.

2. • get at (someone or something)
to attack or hit someone or something
Our dog tried to get at the other dog.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

get at
v.
1. To reach an understanding of; find out the meaning.
This book is very hard to get at.
2. To do harm to.
The cat is on the chair trying to get at the canary.
Compare: GET BACK AT.
3. To have a chance to do; attend to.
I hope I have time to get at my homework tonight.
Compare: GET TO².
4. To mean; aim at; hint at.
What was Betty getting at when she said she knew our secret?
What the teacher was getting at in this lesson was that it is important to speak correctly.
Synonym: DRIVE AT.
Compare: GET ACROSS.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

get at someone
• get at (someone or something)
to attack or hit someone or something
Our dog tried to get at the other dog.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲