get across

Explain an idea or feeling so that other people understand it.

• I cannot get my point across.
• The pictures got the message across clearly.
• How do you get complex ideas across to children?

How to use it: get something across to someone (She got her message across to the whole class.); get across to someone that… (I tried to get across to him that we needed more time.)

Similar words: convey, communicate, explain

Common phrases: get across something, get across ideas, get across feelings

Move from one side of something to the other.

• How can we get across the road?
• They got across the river before dark.
• We could not get across because the bridge was closed.

How to use it: get across something (We used a small boat to get across the river.)

Similar words: cross, traverse

Common phrases: get across something, get across safely, get across rivers

Annoy someone or make them think badly of you.

• Try not to get across him.
• She got across her neighbors by complaining every day.
• He had got across several colleagues before he left.

How to use it: get across someone (You do not want to get across the boss.)

Similar words: annoy, antagonize

Opposites: please

Common phrases: get across someone, get across people