ENGLISH
REFERENCE

get on at

phr. v..
C1 Advanced Oxford British English Informal

phr. v.. to criticize someone repeatedly or complain about their behavior.

phr. v.. to harass or nag someone through persistent criticism or complaints; typically used in British English to describe a pattern of verbal annoyance.


SIMPLE

My boss is always getting on at me about my desk.

CONTEXTUAL

She felt like her parents were constantly getting on at her to find a better job.

COMPLEX

The supervisor continued to get on at the staff regarding minor clerical errors, despite the significant increase in overall productivity.

Particles
on at
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
get + on + at + object
Usage

transitive phrasal verb requiring an object, usually a person.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'get on with' (to have a good relationship) to show how the preposition 'at' changes the direction of the action to something aggressive or critical.

Pitfall

He gets on at to me.He gets on at me.the object follows 'at' directly without an extra preposition.

© 2026 English Reference