English Reference
Idiom idiom

don't get someone started


Used to attempt to avoid or abbreviate a discussion that speaker or hearer may wish to avoid.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

Don't get me started on the bad weather.

CONTEXTUAL

If you ask him about the new office policy, don't get him started because he will talk for hours.

COMPLEX

She knew that mentioning the recent political scandal would only lead to a long argument, so she wisely told her friend, don't get me started.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    and I don't mean maybe

    Indicating that one is serious and not joking about a matter.

  2. 02

    as if someone owns the place

    Alternative form of like someone owns the place.

  3. 03

    as it gets

    As it is possible to be.

  4. 04

    beat someone round the ears

    To beat (a person) with blows about the head.

  5. 05

    been there, done that, got the T-shirt

    Alternative form of been there, done that, bought the T-shirt.

  6. 06

    bless someone with

    To give or bestow, as a gift from God.

  7. 07

    bring someone to their knees

    To defeat and make submit to orders.

  8. 08

    call someone every name in the book

    To call someone many abusive names.

Last updated August 10, 2026