# get at

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to try to say something indirectly or suggest a hidden meaning.

For teachers: to imply or suggest a meaning without stating it explicitly; often used in the progressive aspect to query a speaker's underlying point.

## Examples

- I don't understand what you are getting at.
- If you are getting at the fact that I was late, just say it directly.
- The prosecutor spent an hour questioning the witness, but the jury struggled to see exactly what he was getting at with such specific inquiries.

## Pitfalls

- Not "What do you get at?" but "What are you getting at?" — the phrase is almost always used in the continuous form when asking about a current point being made.

## Usage notes

- almost always used in the continuous form ('getting at') when asking for clarification.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'mean' or 'suggest'; 'get at' implies the listener is having trouble grasping the speaker's true intention.

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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.