English in Valencia grammar notes: phrasal verbs g

get something across
to make people understand

The advertising campaign should get it across to people that our product is the best.

The company is in financial trouble, and this meeting has been called to get that message across.

get down to something
to start

I'll just introduce everyone, and then we'll get down to business.

We've been chatting far too long. It's time we got down to some work.

get on (with something)
to continue
to progress

get on (with someone)
to have a good relationship

I must get on now or I'll never finish this report before the deadline.

You started a new job last month, didn't you? How are you getting on?

How are you getting on with that report? Nearly finished?

I wish my old boss hadn't retired. My new boss and I don't get on.

The old manager was very easy to get on with.

It's difficult to get on well with the new manager.

get through (to someone)
to contact by phone

At last! I've been ringing all morning. It's taken me ages to get through.

I was ringing you all day yesterday, but I couldn't get through.

I finally got through to the department I wanted, but they said it would be best to go to the office in person.

give something away
to give without receiving payment

When we renewed our computer system we gave all the old equipment away to the local secondary school.

It's such a terrible product you couldn't give it away.

give something out
to distribute

We'll be giving out copies of the chairman's speech at the end of the morning.

You need to give these feedback forms out before the end of the session. And make sure you collect them back in again.

go ahead (with something)
to proceed

You're the expert. Go ahead and do whatever you think best.

I've spoken to the client and he says we can go ahead with the advertising campaign.

go-ahead (noun)

Have you got the go-ahead for the plans yet?

We have to wait for the director to give us the go-ahead.

go along with something
to agree to

OK, I'll go along with that idea.

He never has any suggestions to make. He just goes along with what everyone else says.

go down (well/badly etc)
to be received

The ideas we had for the future didn't go down well at the meeting.

How did your suggestion go down?

So you told your boss that he didn't know how to manage people. I can imagine how that went down.

go into something
to talk about in detail

"What about the plans for the new building?"
" We can go into that later, after this meeting."

You don't need to go into all the details. Just tell me yes or no.

go on (with something)
go on (doing something)
to continue

go on
to happen

Sorry I'm late. Please go on.

OK, go on. I'm ready.

While everyone else was looking out of the window at what was happening in the street, he just went on with his work.

She went on working until the day before she had the baby.

What's going on? Why isn't anyone working?

go through
to be completed successfully

go through something
to check/examine
to experience

If we get the buyer's signature this afternoon, the deal can go through by the end of the week.

My application to join the club went through last month.

Go through your notes before the presentation to make sure you haven't forgotten anything.

Don't mention taxes! We don't want to go through that again.

I don't want to go through a journey like that again. It took nine hours to get here from Madrid.

go under
to go bankrupt

We'll have to cut the number of staff, otherwise the company will go under.

Some of our smaller competitors have gone under because they got into too much debt.