English Reference

Phrasal verb

get over with

Definition

phrasal verb. to finish something unpleasant quickly so you do not have to worry about it anymore.

phrasal verb. to complete a necessary but disagreeable task or experience as soon as possible to avoid further dread or delay.

Examples

“I want to get this exam over with today.”

“Let's just have the meeting now and get it over with so we can enjoy the weekend.”

“The witness hoped to get her testimony over with early in the trial to escape the intense media scrutiny surrounding the case.”

Examples

simple

“I want to get this exam over with today.”

contextual

“Let's just have the meeting now and get it over with so we can enjoy the weekend.”

complex

“The witness hoped to get her testimony over with early in the trial to escape the intense media scrutiny surrounding the case.”

Usage

usually used with 'it' or a specific unpleasant task as the object.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'finish' or 'complete'; 'get over with' specifically implies the task is something the speaker dislikes or finds stressful.

Pitfall

I want to get over with the dentist.

I want to get the dentist visit over with.

the object usually goes between 'get' and 'over' when it is a specific task or event.

Phrasal verb

Particles

over with

Separability

optional

Pattern

get + object + over + with

Synonyms

Antonyms

Grammar

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/get-over-with

English Reference