# get on with sb

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/get-on-with-sb
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to have a friendly and good relationship with someone.

For teachers: to maintain a harmonious social relationship with a specific person; typically used to describe the quality of interaction between colleagues, family, or peers.

## Examples

- I get on well with my new roommate.
- Even though they have different personalities, the two sisters get on with each other perfectly.
- The success of the merger depends largely on whether the executive teams can get on with their counterparts from the overseas office.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I get on with very well my boss." but "I get on very well with my boss." — adverbs like 'well' usually come before the preposition 'with' or at the end of the clause, not between the preposition and the object.

## Usage notes

- often used with adverbs like 'well', 'famously', or 'badly' to describe the relationship quality.
- Teaching tip: note the British preference for 'get on with' versus the American 'get along with'; both are understood globally but 'get on' is a hallmark of UK English.

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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.
