get at

Verb

get at (third-person singular simple present gets at, present participle getting at, simple past got at, past participle (UK) got at or (US) gotten at)

1. To manage to gain access to.
   • I have a lot of money in my trust fund. I just can't get at it.
2. To understand or ascertain by investigation.
   • We need to get at the root cause of all this.
3. To mean, signify, imply.
   • I don't understand. What are you getting at?

   Synonyms:

   drive at

4. To attack verbally or physically; to annoy, bother.
   • He's a bit disheartened. The newspapers have been getting at him again.
   • My cat was badly injured after the neighbour's dog got at her.
5. To persuade by intimidation; to tamper with; to corrupt.
   • That was a ridiculous verdict. I think the jury was got at.
   • All the while, Wolf's followers hounded me about why I had sold out to the “globalists” and was duping the public into believing that masks, vaccines, and restrictions on indoor gatherings were legitimate public health measures […] “I think she's been got at!” someone whose handle is “RickyBaby321”...2023, Naomi Klein, Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World, Penguin, →ISBN, page 36
6. To begin working on or dealing with.
   • Stop procrastinating on your work and get at it!

   Synonyms:

   have at, get on

7. (US, slang) To contact someone.
   • I've got some things to do for about an hour. After that, get at me.
8. (UK, slang) To tease (someone).