to get back to work
211
1.7
- phrasal verb
- After taking a short break, I need to get back to work on my project.
- people get back to work
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Watch on YouTubeMore people getting back to work is a good thing.
- More people getting back to work is a good thing.
- I've got PTSD and they're trying to get me back to work.
- Let's let this pass and we'll get back to our work.
- Listen, but he sometimes seems to rush to get back to work.
- But they can, you know, go out, get this done and get back to work in a time frame that's actually reasonable.
- Well, then maybe we could now reopen our country, get back to work.
Examples
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Let's get back to work, okay?
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"But the president was telling everybody to get back to work.
Academic text (2002) -
More people getting back to work is a good thing.
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Feel free to sign out and get back to work because I think we're a little tight this week.
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I gotta get back to work.
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I had to get back to work.
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Now, get back to work.
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Okay, let's get back to work here.
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Can't wait to get back to work.
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So, let’s get back to work.
Synonyms
416
2.0
To start doing your job, often after a delay
272
3.1
To start an activity again after a pause
73
3.4
Start working normally again after a problem or distraction
5
4.0
Begin being involved again after a break
3
5.3
To start doing your normal work and activities after a break
2
7.2
Able to work well again after a break
2
5.6
To begin again after a pause
1
4.9
To start an earlier activity or conversation again after an interruption
1
9.9
To go back to the main topic or task after a distraction
Antonyms
How Quickly
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to return to one’s job or tasks after a pause' is directly and transparently built from 'get' + 'back' (expressing return) plus 'to work' (specifying the activity/destination). This compositional pattern is common in English and across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
The phrase get back to work comes from the simple image of leaving your desk or stopping a task and then returning to it. To get back is to return to your work, so it means 'to return to your job or tasks' after a pause.