to get at

Examples

• All

• What are you getting at?

  The Black Hole (1979)

• You just get at him all the time.

  Down Terrace (2010)

• What the hell are you getting at?

  Deadly Impact (2010)

• "How come?" I asked, and she knew what I was getting at.

  Fiction book (1998)

• Do you see what I'm getting at?

  Henry Fool (1998)

• But I think I know what you're getting at.

  Fiction book (1998)

• I wasn't sure what he was getting at, but it was pretty clear he had some kind of problem with me.

  Fiction book (1993)

• I nodded, still not understanding what she was getting at.

  Fiction book (1993)

• That's not what I'm getting at.

  Thank You for Smoking (2005)

• Don't get at me!

  The Inheritance (2011)

Synonyms

B

to bother

vsto get at

∞ 1.0

To annoy or disturb someone

is narrower, naming ongoing small annoyances that disturb repeatedly

A

to annoy

vsto get at

246 1.0

Make someone slightly angry or bothered by small repeated actions

highlights repeated minor actions rather than single incidents

G

to get to

vsto get at

• Informal

215 6.3

Annoy or upset someone gradually

refers specifically to repeated minor actions causing disturbance

P

to provoke

vsto get at

144 3.6

Annoy someone again and again to make them react

is similar but focuses on small repeated acts without seeking reaction

I

to irritate

vsto get at

78 2.9

Make someone feel annoyed or impatient, often by repeated small actions

emphasizes ongoing minor actions as the source of disturbance

R

to rile

vsto get at

63 6.9

Make someone annoyed, often by small things

is more about steady, repeated small disturbances rather than sudden acts

A

to aggravate

vsto get at

43 4.2

Annoy someone and make them angrier

focuses on repeated minor irritations causing steady disturbance

V

to vex

vsto get at

11 7.0

To annoy someone by small, repeated actions

focuses on minor repeated acts that disturb someone over time

G

to get a rise out of

vsto get at

• Informal

8 6.8

Make someone angry or annoyed on purpose by teasing them

is less about deliberate provocation and more about repeated small disturbances

G

to get on someone's nerves

vsto get at

• Informal

7 4.9

To bother someone again and again until they feel angry

focuses on repeated small actions that create that continual bother

E

to exasperate

vsto get at

7 5.9

Make someone very annoyed by doing the same thing again and again

is milder, referring to repeated small acts that disturb rather than strong outrage

G

to get under someone's skin

vsto get at

• Informal

4 7.4

To annoy someone a lot by small things another person does

is milder and tied to repeated minor annoyances rather than deep upset

N

to nettle

vsto get at

2 6.8

To annoy or upset someone in a way that feels sharp

describes gentler, repeated small irritations rather than sharp provocation

G

to get one's dander up

vsto get at

• Informal

1 9.1

To make someone angry

is milder, centering on repeated small actions that simply disturb

G

to get someone's back up

vsto get at

• UK

1 7.9

To annoy someone or make them feel defensive

is broader, covering repeated minor annoyances beyond criticism

D

to devil

vsto get at

• UK

8.3

To annoy someone again and again with small problems

is about repeated minor annoyances rather than a single persistent tactic

G

to get someone's goat

vsto get at

• Informal

8.4

To annoy someone or make them angry

is more about many small disturbances building up rather than one clear insult

G

to get on someone's wick

vsto get at

• UK

9.9

To annoy someone by doing the same small things again and again

is the neutral description of repeated small acts that disturb someone

Antonyms

P

to please

216 1.0

To make someone happy or satisfied

C

to comfort

172 1.0

To make someone feel less upset or in pain

How Annoying

to harass

302 4.0

to get at

• Informal

25 7.1

to irritate

78 2.9

to annoy

246 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology