get it

1. Understand something, as in He claims his plan is reasonable, but I'm not sure I get it . This synonym for catch on was popularized during the 1980s through a televised political debate in which presidential nominee Ronald Reagan told his opponent, You just don't get it, do you ? This particular phrase has since been repeated in numerous contexts where one is expressing exasperation at someone's failure to understand something. The phrase is also put in the past tense, got it , meaning “understood.” For example, We're leaving tomorrow.—OK, got it . [ Colloquial ; late 1800s] Also see get the message .

2. See catch it .

Example Sentences

When we continue to get it, it is because we continue to give our audience the best that we have.

From Salon

“Where I think we got it wrong, for instance, was the way that the funeral guidance was applied on the ground - it wasn’t as had been intended.”

From BBC

“Like after we got it, no one was mad. No one was trying to take it from us. Everyone was just super happy.”

From Los Angeles Times

Because I still didn’t understand, at that stage: “Why can’t you just stop? Why can’t you stop for me, for all of these people, for your life? I don’t get it.”

From Los Angeles Times

“I just try to do my job when my name is called. I got it going early tonight and it worked out.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comprehend
• get
• grasp
• know
• recognize
• think
• understand