Phrasal Verbs | Letter G

Here is a list of phrasal verbs beginning with letter G. Each phrasal verb is followed by its definition and example sentences.

Get across = cause to be understood

• Good communication skills are essential to get your message across.

Get ahead = make progress

• I can’t get ahead even though I work overtime.

Get ahead of = overcome; surpass

• You will have to work twice as hard in order to get ahead of schedule.

Get along / get along with = have a good relationship with.

• She doesn’t get along with her neighbors.

Get around = avoid something

• Do you want to get around paying taxes? You just need to hire a good accountant.

Get away = escape

• He was hoping that he would be able to get away after committing such a heinous crime, but they proved him wrong.

Get away with = do something against the rules and still not get caught

• She is very influential. She gets away with everything.

Get by = survive without the basic necessities

• He doesn’t earn enough to get by.

Get by with = manage with

• Before computers became common people had to get by with the typewriter.

Get down to = get serious about a topic

• When he gets down to business there is no stopping him.

Get off (separable) = remove

• Can you get that spider off the piano?

Get off = leave a bus etc.

• As there was no room, we got off the bus.
• We will get off at the next station.

Get on = enter a bus, train; mount a bike

• The bus is leaving. Quick, get on.
• Get on my bike and I will drop you at the railway station.

Get on / get on with = have a good relationship with

• She doesn’t get on with her mother-in-law.

Get out of = exit a small boat, car etc.

• The boy fell into the water while trying to get off the boat.

Get over = recover from illness or disappointment

• It took her quite some time to get over her breakup with James.

Get through = complete

• Do you think we can get through these assignments by 5 pm?

Get through (with) = finish

• You can go to the park after you have gotten through with your homework.

Get through to = contact by telephone

• It is hard to get through to Mercy. Her cellphone is always busy.

Get up = rise from a lying or sitting position to a standing position

• I usually get up at 6 am.

Give away (separable) = to give something away is to give it without asking for anything in exchange

• Before joining the convent, she gave away all of her possessions.

Give away = betray; reveal a secret

• I had wanted the party to be a secret, but Jennifer gave my surprise away by acting suspicious.

Give back = return something you borrowed

• When are you going to give me my money back?

Give in = stop trying

• She gave in without even making an attempt.

Give off = emit a smell, light etc.

• Roses give off a pleasant fragrance.

Give out (separable) = distribute

• He makes a living by giving out newspapers on the street.

Give up (separable) = surrender something

• The doctor asked him to give up smoking.

Go by = go past, visit quickly

• Did you see the boy who just went by the window?

Go back on = not keep one’s word, promise etc.

• You can trust Peter. He will never go back on his promises.

Go for = try to achieve

• Our team is going for the first prize in the quiz competition.

Go into = discuss in detail

• I don’t want to go into that at the moment.

Go off = explode

• The bomb went off with a loud noise.

Go off = begin, start

• The alarm clock went off at 6 am.

Go off = become angry

• Peter went off when I told him that I had broken his camera.

Go on = continue

• Please, go on.

Go on with = continue a plan, conversation etc.

• I think we should go on with the discussion without wasting any more time.

Go out = stop burning

• All lights went out.

Go out = take part in social activities

• She likes to go out.

Go through = study carefully

• I have to go through this contract before I sign it.

Go through = endure difficulties or traumas

• She has gone through so much in her life.

Go through with = proceed despite difficulties or fear

• There was little chance of success; nonetheless, they decided to go through with the operation.

Go with = match (clothing)

• Those earrings go well with your dress.
• Green goes well with red.

Go with = have a boyfriend/girlfriend

• He is going with a French girl.

Go without = survive without something you want

• We cannot go without food or water for long.

Grow up = mature

• That boy needs to grow up.