phrasal verb · neutral

get across

UK/ɡet əˈkrɒs/US/ɡet əˈkrɔːs/GET·a·CROSS

speakingtask2

to successfully communicate an idea or message so that others understand it

Examples

I used a simple analogy to get my point across.

It’s hard to get complex ideas across in a two-minute talk.

Teachers need to find ways to get information across to students with different learning styles.

Band 8 sentence

In presentations I often use stories and visuals to get complex concepts across quickly and memorably.

Collocations

  • get an idea across
  • get a point across to someone

Word family

get verbgetting across verb phrasegot across verb (past)

Common mistakes

I can't get my idea.I can't get my idea across.

I tried to get through my point.I tried to get my point across.

Say it for a higher band

5explain6convey7+get across

Synonyms

convey

communicate

make understood

Easily confused

get through

I used a clear metaphor to get my point across, because I wanted the committee to understand, not merely to get through to someone by phone or to get over the setback myself.

get over

It took him months to get over the breakup.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In get …

Learn it with its set