phrasal verb · informal
get someone's number
UK/ɡet ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈnʌmbə/US/ɡet ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈnʌmbər/get SOMEone's NO·Mber
to understand what someone is really like or how they behave
Examples
“At first he seemed friendly, but I got his number after a few meetings — he's quite competitive.”
“It didn't take long to get her number; she's always late.”
“Once you get someone's number, you know how to deal with them in meetings.”
Band 8 sentence
“After working with the manager for a month I got his number and adapted my approach accordingly.”
Collocations
- get someone's number after + time
- quickly get someone's number
Word family
Common mistakes
I got his number that he is shy.→I got his number — he is shy.
I understand his number.→I got his number.
Say it for a higher band
5understand someone→6know someone→7+get someone's number
Synonyms
size someone up
Easily confused
size someone up
“She sized him up in a minute and knew he wouldn't be a team player.”
Related words
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