# get across to

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/get-across-to
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to make someone understand an idea or a message clearly.

For teachers: to communicate a concept or information successfully to an audience; implies overcoming a barrier of understanding or distance.

## Examples

- I hope I got my point across to the team.
- The teacher used simple drawings to get the difficult science lesson across to the young students.
- The politician struggled to get his message across to the voters despite spending millions on television advertisements and social media campaigns.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I tried to get across my idea to him." but "I tried to get my idea across to him." — while 'get across' can be used together, it is much more natural to place the idea being communicated between 'get' and 'across'.

## Usage notes

- usually requires an object (the idea) between 'get' and 'across'.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'get through to' which focuses more on emotional connection or breaking through stubbornness; 'get across to' focuses on the clarity of the information.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.