# get after

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

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

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

## Examples

- My boss is always getting after me about my messy desk.
- If you don't get after him to finish his homework, he will just play video games all night.
- The coach spent the entire practice getting after the players for their lack of focus and poor defensive positioning.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I need to get after to him." but "I need to get after him." — the verb is transitive and takes the object directly after the particle without an extra preposition.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.