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to get over with

to get over with

249 3.9
To finish an unpleasant task quickly so you do not worry about it
  • phrasal verb
  • /ɡɛt ˈoʊvər wɪð/
translation icon : terminar de una vez
  • I just want to get this over with.
  • just get it over with
  • let's get it over with
  • want to get it over with

Well, OK, let's get this over with.

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Examples

  • Come on, Faith, let's get this over with and get back to the dance.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Let's get this over with quickly.

  • I was obviously really nervous, but I also just felt like I was ready to just get it over with at that point.

  • I just want to get it over with and be on my way, thank you.

  • Maybe we should just pay them the money again and get this thing over with.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Let's hurry this up and get it over with.

  • So in any case, I had a couple interviews and got those over with early in the day.

  • Why don't we get this over with?

  • "I'd just like to get this over with so I can get my niece home.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • I just want to get this over with so I can enjoy the rest of the day.

Synonyms

to wrap up
vsto get over with
226 3.0

Finish an activity or task

focuses on quick completion to remove ongoing worry
to finish up
vsto get over with
190 2.0

To complete an activity or task

adds urgency to finish unpleasant tasks fast
to get it done
vsto get over with
134 2.8

To finish a task you need to do

stresses doing it quickly to stop worrying
to get through
vsto get over with
128 3.3

To finish a difficult or long task

focuses on ending things quickly to stop worrying
to get over
vsto get over with
65 3.4

Finish an unpleasant or necessary task

focuses on rapid completion to remove worry
to finish off
vsto get over with
20 3.5

To use up the last of something

means finishing quickly to stop worrying rather than consuming items
to have something over with
vsto get over with
  • Informal
1 5.3

To finish something unpleasant so you stop worrying

emphasizes finishing quickly to stop worrying

Antonyms

96 3.9

To make something last longer

17 5.0

Move or act slowly and waste time, causing delay

How Quickly

to get over with
249 3.9
to make quick work of
  • Informal
4 3.9
rush
1 4.1
to delay
562 1.4

Surface Forms

get over with infinitive
got over with past participle
getting over with present participle
gets over with third person singular

Morphology

get + over + with

The meaning 'to finish or complete something' is partially derivable because 'over' signals completion and 'get' can imply causing or bringing about an outcome, so learners could infer 'bring something to an end'. However the full phrasal pattern 'get over with' is a fixed construction (and differs from 'get over' = recover), so the relation is not entirely predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Get over with comes from the image of pushing a problem over your shoulder so it is past you; once you get it over you no longer carry it. So, it means 'to finish something unpleasant quickly'.