Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To reach or gain access to something: To physically or metaphorically access or obtain something, often implying difficulty or a specific method is required.
   • To imply or suggest something indirectly: To try to communicate a meaning or idea in a roundabout or suggestive way.
   • To criticize or attack someone persistently: To make repeated critical remarks aimed at someone.

Usage and Examples

• To reach or gain access to:
  • The files are locked in a cabinet I can't get at.
  • The cat tried to get at the bird inside the cage.
• To imply or suggest indirectly:
  • What are you getting at? Just tell me directly.
  • I think his comment was getting at the need for better communication.
• To criticize or attack persistently:
  • He felt his boss was always getting at him for minor mistakes.
  • The opposition party constantly gets at the government's policies.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "What is someone getting at?": A common question used when someone is speaking indirectly, asking for the underlying point or implication.
  • I don't understand her story. What is she getting at?
• The phrase often carries a tone of frustration, either with the inaccessibility of an object or the indirectness of speech.
• In British English, "get at" can also informally mean "to bribe or corruptly influence."
  • Witnesses claimed the defendant had tried to get at the jury.

Variants and Related Words

• Get (verb): The base verb with a wide range of meanings including to obtain, receive, or become.
• Access (verb): A more formal synonym for the "reach or gain access to" meaning.
• Hint at (verb phrase): A close synonym for the "imply or suggest" meaning.
• Pick on (phrasal verb): A synonym for the "criticize persistently" meaning, especially for minor faults.

Synonyms

• Access: To obtain entry to or reach.
• Attain: To succeed in achieving something.
• Hint: To suggest indirectly.
• Insinuate: To suggest something unpleasant indirectly.
• Nag: To criticize or annoy persistently.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Get to: Can overlap with "get at" in the sense of reaching a place or, informally, bothering someone emotionally.
  • The constant noise really gets to me. (Compare to "bothers/irritates" meaning of "get at").
• Get across: To successfully communicate an idea.
  • He struggled to get his point across.
• Get through to: To succeed in making someone understand.
  • I can't seem to get through to him about the dangers.

Idioms and Fixed Expressions

• "Get at the truth": To discover or uncover the real facts of a situation.
  • The investigation aimed to get at the truth of the matter.
• "Hard to get at": Describes something difficult to access, physically or conceptually.
  • The meaning of the ancient text is hard to get at.

Verb

1. cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
   • Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me
   • It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves
2. influence by corruption
3. reach or gain access to
   • How does one access the attic in this house?
   • I cannot get to the T.V. antenna, even if I climb on the roof