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Glite Dictionary
to get to the point

to get to the point

126 3.1
Talk about the most important part without extra details
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : ir al grano
  • Let's get to the point.

And to get to the point, he's actually going to say no, not really.

Examples

  • Why dither around, get to the point and just say it.

  • All right, get to the point.

    After Everything (2023)

  • Third answer is you should train yourself to get to the point where you care less.

  • So how do people get to the point where they have something to say?

  • Have to really get to the point, understand what you want to share and so on.

  • So how did you get to the point where you could walk on stage like that?

  • Let me get to the point.

    Camp Hideout (2023)

  • Shall we get to the point?

    Desired (2015)

  • Eventually, however, you may get to the point where merely consuming information is not enough.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Can you please get to the point and tell me your main idea?

Synonyms

to summarize
vsto get to the point
  • US
90 3.0

Present the main points of a text in a short, clear way

focuses on starting to speak about the most important part immediately rather than condensing
to get straight to the point
vsto get to the point
6 3.5

To speak directly about the main idea without extra details

is about beginning with the main matter and avoiding digression
to get down to brass tacks
vsto get to the point
  • Informal
3 7.4

Start talking about the most important details

is about starting with the main point instead of working through detailed steps
to get straight to the facts
vsto get to the point
3.2

Focus immediately on the most important information without extra details

is about beginning with the most important matter rather than general talk
to cut to the nitty-gritty
vsto get to the point
  • Informal
7.4

Start talking about the most important details of a topic

is more about stating the main point rather than focusing on small practical details
to surface the main issue
vsto get to the point
5.6

Point out the most important problem in a discussion

is about beginning to talk about the main point rather than only highlighting it

Antonyms

to ramble
  • Informal
48 5.3

To talk or write for a long time without a clear point

to digress
22 6.8

To start talking about something else for a short time

How Direct

to get to the point
  • Informal
126 3.1
to talk about
∞ 1.3
to beat around the bush
  • Informal
17 5.6
to ramble
  • Informal
48 5.3

Surface Forms

get to the point infinitive

Morphology

get + to + the + point

The phrase combines 'get' (to reach/arrive at or obtain) with 'point' (the main idea or significance), so its meaning ‘reach the main idea’ is directly and compositionally derivable from the constituents; the particles 'to' and 'the' are transparent function words. This motion/arrival metaphor for reaching an idea is common across languages and follows normal English verb + noun composition, so a B1 learner who knows the parts will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Get to the point paints a clear image: imagine walking straight to the tip of a pencil or map where the main idea is. To get to that point is to arrive at the most important part of what you want to say, so the phrase means 'to say the main idea without extra details'.