ENGLISH
REFERENCE

get after

phr. v..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford American English Informal

phr. v.. to tell someone off or pressure them to do something they have been avoiding.

phr. v.. to urge, scold, or pressure a person to complete a task or improve their behavior; often implies a repetitive or nagging quality.


SIMPLE

My boss is always getting after me about my messy desk.

CONTEXTUAL

If you don't get after him to finish his homework, he will just play video games all night.

COMPLEX

The coach spent the entire practice getting after the players for their lack of focus and poor defensive positioning.

Particles
after
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
get + after + object
Usage

usually followed by a person as the object, then the preposition 'about' or 'to'.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'go after' (to pursue a goal or a criminal); 'get after' is more about verbal pressure or nagging.

Pitfall

I need to get after to him.I need to get after him.the verb is transitive and takes the object directly after the particle without an extra preposition.

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