phrasal verb (idiom) · informal
get a word in
UK/ɡet ə wɜːd ɪn/US/ɡet ə wɝd ɪn/get a WORD in
to manage to say something during a conversation when others are talking a lot
Examples
“During the debate I couldn’t get a word in because everyone was interrupting.”
“Her friends talk so much that it's hard for her to get a word in.”
“He kept interrupting, so no one could get a word in.”
Band 8 sentence
“In group discussions I often struggle to get a word in because some participants dominate the conversation.”
Collocations
- can't get a word in
- get a word in edgeways
Word family
Common mistakes
I couldn't say a word in.→I couldn't get a word in.
She didn't get a word on the meeting.→She couldn't get a word in during the meeting.
Say it for a higher band
5speak→6interrupt→7+get a word in
Synonyms
interrupt
speak up
Easily confused
interrupt
“Please don't interrupt me when I'm explaining.”
Related words
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