U

get back

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to oneself or itself (usually used after a possessive to emphasize the idea of ownership, interest, or relation conveyed by the possessive): He spent only his own money.
(used as an intensifier to indicate oneself as the sole agent of some activity or action, preceded by a possessive): He insists on being his own doctor.

verb (used with object)

to have or hold as one’s own; possess: They own several homes.
to acknowledge or admit: to own a fault.
to acknowledge as one’s own; recognize as having full claim, authority, power, dominion, etc.: He owned his child before the entire assembly. They owned the king as their lord.
to totally defeat, gain control over, or dominate in a competition: I totally owned the last two levels of the game. He owned the season from beginning to end and took the world title.
to take over a (a computer system, program, or computer) without authorization: The network has been owned by a hacker.

verb (used without object)

to confess (often followed by to, up, or up to): The one who did it had better own up. I own to being uncertain about that.

Idioms

come into one’s own,
1. to take possession of that which is due or owed one.
2. to receive the recognition that one’s abilities merit: She finally came into her own as a sculptor of the first magnitude.
get one’s own back, to get revenge and thereby a sense of personal satisfaction, as for a slight or a previous setback; get even with somebody or something: He saw the award as a way of getting his own back for all the snubs by his colleagues.
hold one’s own,
1. to maintain one’s position or condition: The stock market seems to be holding its own these days.
2. to be equal to the opposition: He can hold his own in any fight.
of one’s own, belonging to oneself: She had never had a room of her own.
on one’s own,
1. by dint of one’s own efforts, resources, or sense of responsibility; independently: Because she spoke the language, she got around the country very well on her own.
2. living or functioning without dependence on others; independent: My son’s been on his own for several years.

noun

the rear part of the human body, extending from the neck to the lower end of the spine.
the part of the body of animals corresponding to the human back.
the rear portion of any part of the body: the back of the head.
the whole body, with reference to clothing: the clothes on his back.
ability for labor; effort; endurance: He put his back into the task.
the part opposite to or farthest from the front; the rear part: the back of a hall.
the part that forms the rear of any object or structure: the back of a chair.
the part that covers the back: the back of a jacket.
the spine or backbone: The fall broke his back.
any rear part of an object serving to support, protect, etc.: the back of a binder.
Nautical, Aeronautics. the forward side of a propeller blade (opposed to facedef 20).
Aeronautics. the top part or upper surface of an aircraft, especially of its fuselage.
Bookbinding. the edge of a book formed where its sections are bound together.
the backs, grounds along the River Cam in back of certain colleges at Cambridge University in England: noted for their great beauty.
Architecture. extrados.
Carpentry.
1. the upper side of a joist, rafter, handrail, etc.
2. the area of interior wall between a window stool and the floor.
Mining. the roof of a stope or drift.
Sports.
1. a player whose regular position is behind that of players who make initial contact with the opposing team, as behind the forward line in football or nearest the player’s own goal in polo.
2. the position occupied by this player.

verb (used with object)

to support, as with authority, influence, help, or money (often followed by up): to back a candidate; to back up a theory with facts.
to bet on: to back a horse in the race.
to cause to move backward (often followed by up): to back a car.
to furnish with a back: to back a book.
to lie at the back of; form a back or background for: a beach backed by hills.
to provide with an accompaniment: a singer backed by piano and bass.
to get upon the back of; mount.
to write or print on the back of; endorse; countersign.
Carpentry. to attach strips of wood to the upper edge of (a joist or rafter) to bring it to a desired level.
Nautical.
1. to alter the position of (a sail) so that the wind will strike the forward face.
2. to brace (yards) in backing a sail.
3. to reinforce the hold of (an anchor) by means of a smaller one attached to it and dropped farther away.

verb (used without object)

to go or move backward (often followed by up).
Nautical. (of wind) to change direction counterclockwise (opposed to veer).

adjective

situated at or in the rear: at the back door; back fence.
far away or removed from the front or main area, position, or rank; remote: back settlements.
belonging to the past: back files; back issues.
in arrears; overdue: back pay.
coming or going back; moving backward: back current.
Navigation. reciprocal(def 7).
Phonetics. (of a speech sound) produced with the tongue articulating in the back part of the mouth, as in either of the sounds of go.

Verb Phrases

back away, to retreat; withdraw: They gradually began to back away from their earlier opinion.
back down, to abandon an argument, opinion, or claim; withdraw; retreat: He backed down as soon as a member of the audience challenged his assertion.
back off,
1. to back down: Now that the time for action had arrived, it was too late to back off.
2. Textiles.to reverse (the spindle) in mule spinning prior to winding on the newly spun length of yarn.
back out (of), to fail to keep an engagement or promise; withdraw from; abandon: Two entrants have backed out of competing in the marathon. You can’t back out now.
back up,
1. to bring (a stream of traffic) to a standstill: A stalled car backed up traffic for miles.
2. Printing.to print a sheet again on its other side.
3. Printing.to fill in (the thin copper shell of an electrotype) with metal in order to strengthen it.
4. to move backward: Back up into the garage.
5. to reinforce: We backed up the cardboard with slats so it wouldn’t fall down.
6. to support or confirm: He backed up my story and they let us go.
7. Computers.to duplicate (a file or a program) as a precaution against failure.
back up for, Australian Informal. to return for more of, as another helping of food.

Idioms

back and fill,
1. Nautical.to trim the sails of a boat so that the wind strikes them first on the forward and then on the after side.
2. to change one’s opinion or position; vacillate.
back and forth, South Midland U.S.
1. to go back and forth, as in running errands or visiting: He spent the day backing and forthing to the post office.
2. to work in an aimless or ineffective way; expend effort with little result.
back water,
1. Nautical.to reverse the direction of a vessel.
2. to retreat from a position; withdraw an opinion: I predict that the council will back water on the tax issue.
be flat on one’s back,
1. to be helpless or beaten: He’s flat on his back after a long succession of failures.
2. to be confined to one’s bed because of illness.
behind one’s back, in one’s absence; without one’s knowledge; treacherously; secretly: I’d rather talk to him about it directly than discuss it behind his back.
break someone’s back, to cause a person to fail, especially to cause to become bankrupt: His family’s extravagance is breaking his back.
break the back of,
1. to complete the principal or hardest part of (a project, one’s work, etc.): He finally broke the back of the problem.
2. to overcome; defeat: They broke the back of our union.
get off one’s back, Informal. to cease to find fault with or to disturb someone: The fight started when they wouldn’t get off my back.
get one’s back up, Informal. to become annoyed; take offense: She gets her back up whenever someone mentions her family’s influence.
get/have/watch someone’s back, Informal. to help and protect someone if necessary, especially in a time of trouble: If he needs anything, I hope he knows I’ve got his back.Also have got someone’s back.
have one’s back to the wall, to be in a difficult or hopeless situation.
in back of, behind: He hid in back of the billboard. What could be in back of his strange behavior?Also back of.
on one’s back, Informal. finding fault with or disturbing someone: The boss is always on my back about promptness.
pat on the back. pat¹(defs 9, 11).
a stab in the back. stab(def 12).
stab (someone) in the back. stab(def 13).
turn one’s back on,
1. to forsake or neglect: He was unable to turn his back on any suffering creature.
2. to leave behind, as in anger.

verb (used with object), got or (Archaic) gat; got or got·ten; get·ting.

to receive or come to have possession, use, or enjoyment of: to get a birthday present; to get a pension.
to cause to be in one’s possession or succeed in having available for one’s use or enjoyment; obtain; acquire: to get a good price after bargaining; to get oil by drilling; to get information.
to go after, take hold of, and bring (something) for one’s own or for another’s purposes; fetch: Would you get the milk from the refrigerator for me?
to cause or cause to become, to do, to move, etc., as specified; effect: to get one’s hair cut; to get a person drunk; to get a fire to burn; to get a dog out of a room.
to communicate or establish communication with over a distance; reach: You can always get me by telephone.
to hear or hear clearly: I didn’t get your last name.
to acquire a mental grasp or command of; learn: to get a lesson.
to capture; seize: Get him before he escapes!
to receive as a punishment or sentence: to get a spanking; to get 20 years in jail.
to prevail on; influence or persuade: We’ll get him to go with us.
to prepare; make ready: to get dinner.
(especially of animals) to beget.
Informal. to affect emotionally: Her pleas got me.
to hit, strike, or wound: The bullet got him in the leg.
Informal. to kill.
Informal. to take vengeance on: I’ll get you yet!
to catch or be afflicted with; come down with or suffer from: He got malaria while living in the tropics. She gets butterflies before every performance.
Informal. to puzzle; irritate; annoy: Their silly remarks get me.
Informal. to understand; comprehend: I don’t get the joke. This report may be crystal-clear to a scientist, but I don’t get it.

verb (used without object), got or (Archaic) gat; got or got·ten; get·ting.

to come to a specified place; arrive; reach: to get home late.
to succeed, become enabled, or be permitted: You get to meet a lot of interesting people.
to become or to cause oneself to become as specified; reach a certain condition: to get angry; to get sick.
(used as an auxiliary verb followed by a past participle to form the passive): to get married; to get elected; to get hit by a car.
to succeed in coming, going, arriving at, visiting, etc. (usually followed by away, in, into, out, etc.): I don’t get into town very often.
to bear, endure, or survive (usually followed by through or over): Can he get through another bad winter?
to earn money; gain.
Informal. to leave promptly; scram: He told us to get.
to start or enter upon the action of (followed by a present participle expressing action): to get moving; Get rolling.

noun

an offspring or the total of the offspring, especially of a male animal: the get of a stallion.
a return of a ball, as in tennis, that would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent.
British Slang.
1. something earned, as salary, profits, etc.: What’s your week’s get?
2. a child born out of wedlock.

Verb Phrases

get about,
1. to move about; be active: He gets about with difficulty since his illness.
2. to become known; spread: It was supposed to be a secret, but somehow it got about.
3. to be socially active: She’s been getting about much more since her family moved to the city.
Also get around.
get across,
1. to make or become understandable; communicate: to get a lesson across to students.
2. to be convincing about; impress upon others: The fire chief got across forcefully the fact that turning in a false alarm is a serious offense.
get ahead, to be successful, as in business or society: She got ahead by sheer determination.
get ahead of,
1. to move forward of, as in traveling: The taxi got ahead of her after the light changed.
2. to surpass; outdo: He refused to let anyone get ahead of him in business.
get along,
1. to go away; leave.
2. get on.
get around,
1. to circumvent; outwit.
2. to ingratiate oneself with (someone) through flattery or cajolery.
3. to travel from place to place; circulate: I don’t get around much anymore.
4. get about.
get at,
1. to reach; touch: to stretch in order to get at a top shelf.
2. to suggest, hint at, or imply; intimate: What are you getting at?
3. to discover; determine: to get at the root of a problem.
4. Informal.to influence by surreptitious or illegal means; bribe: The gangsters couldn’t get at the mayor.
get away,
1. to escape; flee: He tried to get away, but the crowd was too dense.
2. to start out; leave: The racehorses got away from the starting gate.
get away with, to perpetrate or accomplish without detection or punishment: Some people lie and cheat and always seem to get away with it.
get by,
1. to succeed in going past: to get by a police barricade.
2. to manage to exist, survive, continue in business, etc., in spite of difficulties.
3. to evade the notice of: He doesn’t let much get by him.
get down,
1. to bring or come down; descend: The kitten climbed the tree, but then couldn’t get down again.
2. to concentrate; attend: to get down to the matter at hand.
3. to depress; discourage; fatigue: Nothing gets me down so much as a rainy day.
4. to swallow: The pill was so large that he couldn’t get it down.
5. to relax and enjoy oneself completely; be uninhibited in one’s enjoyment: getting down with a bunch of old friends.
get in,
1. to go into a place; enter: He forgot his key and couldn’t get in.
2. to arrive; come: They both got in on the same train.
3. to become associated with: He got in with a bad crowd.
4. to be chosen or accepted, as for office, membership, etc.: As secretary of the club, his friend made sure that he got in.
5. to become implicated in: By embezzling money to pay his gambling debts quickly, he was getting in further and further.
get off,
1. to escape the consequences of or punishment for one’s actions.
2. to help (someone) escape punishment: A good lawyer might get you off.
3. to begin a journey; leave: He got off on the noon flight.
4. to leave (a train, plane, etc.); dismount from (a horse); alight.
5. to tell (a joke); express (an opinion): The comedian got off a couple of good ones.
6. Informal.to have the effrontery: Where does he get off telling me how to behave?
7. Slang: Vulgar.to experience orgasm.
8. to experience or cause to experience a high from or as if from a drug.
9. to cause to feel pleasure, enthusiasm, or excitement: a new rock group that gets everyone off.
get on/along,
1. to make progress; proceed; advance.
2. to have sufficient means to manage, survive, or fare.
3. to be on good terms; agree: She simply can’t get on with her brothers.
4. to advance in age: He is getting on in years.
get out,
1. to leave (often followed by of): Get out of here! We had to get out of the bus at San Antonio.
2. to become publicly known: We mustn’t let this story get out.
3. to withdraw or retire (often followed by of): He decided to get out of the dry goods business.
4. to produce or complete: Let’s get this work out!
get over,
1. to recover from: to get over an illness.
2. get across.
get through,
1. to succeed, as in meeting, reaching, or contacting by telephone (usually followed by to): I tried to call you last night, but I couldn’t get through.
2. to complete; finish: How he ever got through college is a mystery.
3. to make oneself understood: One simply cannot get through to her.
get to,
1. to get in touch or into communication with; contact: It was too late by the time he got to the authorities.
2. Informal.to make an impression on; affect: This music really gets to you.
3. to begin: When he gets to telling stories about the war, there’s no stopping him.

Idioms

get back,
1. to come back; return: When will you get back?
2. to recover; regain: He got back his investment with interest.
3. to be revenged: She waited for a chance to get back at her accuser.
get even. even¹(def 26).
get going,
1. to begin; act: They wanted to get going on the construction of the house.
2. to increase one’s speed; make haste: If we don’t get going, we’ll never arrive in time.
get it, Informal.
1. to be punished or reprimanded: You’ll get it for breaking that vase!
2. to understand or grasp something: This is just between us, get it?
get it off, Slang: Vulgar. to experience orgasm.
get it on,
1. Informal.to work or perform with satisfying harmony or energy or develop a strong rapport, as in music: a rock group really getting it on with the audience.
2. Slang: Vulgar.to have sexual intercourse.
get it up, Slang: Vulgar. to achieve an erection of the penis.
get off on, Slang. to become enthusiastic about or excited by: After years of indifference, she’s getting off on baseball.
get round. get around.
get the lead out. lead²(def 15).
get there, to reach one’s goal; succeed: He wanted to be a millionaire but he died before he got there.
get together,
1. to accumulate; gather: to get together a portfolio of 20 stocks.
2. to congregate; meet: The alumnae chapter gets together twice a year.
3. to come to an accord; agree: They simply couldn’t get together on matters of policy.
get up,
1. to sit up or stand; arise.
2. to rise from bed.
3. to ascend or mount.
4. to prepare; arrange; organize: to get up an exhibit.
5. to draw upon; marshal; rouse: to get up one’s courage.
6. to acquire a knowledge of.
7. (to a horse) go! go ahead! go faster!
8. to dress, as in a costume or disguise: She got herself up as an astronaut.
9. to produce in a specified style, as a book: It was got up in brown leather with gold endpapers.
has/have got,
1. to possess or own; have: She’s got a new car. Have you got the tickets?
2. must (followed by an infinitive): He’s got to get to a doctor right away.
3. to suffer from: Have you got a cold?

verb (adverb)

(tr) to recover or retrieve
(intr often foll by to) to return, esp to a former position or activitylet’s get back to the original question
(intr foll by at) to retaliate (against); wreak vengeance (on)
get one’s own back informal to obtain one’s revenge

abbreviation for

Greenwich Electronic Time

noun

the posterior part of the human body, extending from the neck to the pelvisRelated adjective: dorsal
the corresponding or upper part of an animal
the spinal column
the part or side of an object opposite the front
the part or side of anything less often seen or usedthe back of a carpet; the back of a knife
the part or side of anything that is furthest from the front or from a spectatorthe back of the stage
the convex part of somethingthe back of a hill; the back of a ship
something that supports, covers, or strengthens the rear of an object
ball games
1. a mainly defensive player behind a forward
2. the position of such a player
the part of a book to which the pages are glued or that joins the covers
mining
1. the side of a passage or layer nearest the surface
2. the earth between that level and the next
the upper surface of a joist, rafter, slate, tile, etc, when in positionCompare bed (def. 13)
at one’s back behind, esp in support or pursuit
at the back of one’s mind not in one’s conscious thoughts
behind one’s back without one’s knowledge; secretly or deceitfully
break one’s back to overwork or work very hard
break the back of to complete the greatest or hardest part of (a task)
on one’s back or flat on one’s back incapacitated, esp through illness
get off someone’s back informal to stop criticizing or pestering someone
have on one’s back to be burdened with
on someone’s back informal criticizing or pestering someone
put one’s back into to devote all one’s strength to (a task)
put someone’s back up or get someone’s back up to annoy someone
see the back of to be rid of
back of beyond
1. the back of beyonda very remote place
2. Australianin such a place (esp in the phrase out back of beyond)
turn one’s back on
1. to turn away from in anger or contempt
2. to refuse to help; abandon
with one’s back to the wall in a difficult or desperate situation

verb (mainly tr)

(also intr) to move or cause to move backwards
to provide support, money, or encouragement for (a person, enterprise, etc)
to bet on the success ofto back a horse
to provide with a back, backing, or lining
to provide with a music accompanimenta soloist backed by an orchestra
to provide a background for; be at the back ofmountains back the town
to countersign or endorse
archaic to mount the back of
(intr; foll by on or onto) to have the back facing (towards)the house backs onto a river
(intr) (of the wind) to change direction in an anticlockwise direction in the northern hemisphere and a clockwise direction in the southernSee veer 1 (def. 3a)
nautical to position (a sail) so that the wind presses on its opposite side
back and fill
1. nauticalto manoeuvre the sails by alternately filling and emptying them of wind to navigate in a narrow place
2. to vacillate in one’s opinion

adjective (prenominal)

situated behinda back lane
of the pastback issues of a magazine
owing from an earlier dateback rent
mainly US, Australian and NZ remoteback country
(of a road) not direct
moving in a backward directionback current
phonetics of, relating to, or denoting a vowel articulated with the tongue retracted towards the soft palate, as for the vowels in English hard, fall, hot, full, fool

adverb

at, to, or towards the rear; away from something considered to be the front; backwards; behind
in, to, or towards the original starting point, place, or conditionto go back home; put the book back; my headache has come back
in or into the pastto look back on one’s childhood
in reply, repayment, or retaliationto hit someone back; pay back a debt; to answer back
in checkthe dam holds back the water
in concealment; in reserveto keep something back; to hold back information
back and forth to and fro
back to front
1. in reverse
2. in disorder

noun

a large tub or vat, esp one used by brewers

verb gets, getting, got (ɡɒt) or got or esp US gotten (mainly tr)

to come into possession of; receive or earn
to bring or fetch
to contract or be affected byhe got a chill at the picnic
to capture or seizethe police finally got him
(also intr) to become or cause to become or act as specifiedto get a window open; get one’s hair cut; get wet
(intr; foll by a preposition or adverbial particle) to succeed in going, coming, leaving, etcget off the bus
(takes an infinitive) to manage or contrivehow did you get to be captain?
to make ready or prepareto get a meal
to hear, notice, or understandI didn’t get your meaning
US and Canadian informal to learn or master by study
(intr often foll by to) to come (to) or arrive (at)we got home safely; to get to London
to catch or enterto get a train
to induce or persuadeget him to leave at once
to reach by calculationadd 2 and 2 and you will get 4
to receive (a broadcast signal)
to communicate with (a person or place), as by telephone
(also intr foll by to) informal to have an emotional effect (on)that music really gets me
informal to annoy or irritateher high voice gets me
informal to bring a person into a difficult position from which he or she cannot escape
informal to puzzle; baffle
informal to hitthe blow got him in the back
informal to be revenged on, esp by killing
US slang
1. (foll by to)to gain access (to a person) with the purpose of bribing him
2. (often foll by to)to obtain access (to someone) and kill or silence him
informal to have the better ofyour extravagant habits will get you in the end
(intr; foll by present participle) informal to beginget moving
(used as a command) informal go! leave now!
archaic to beget or conceive
get even with See even 1 (def. 15)
get it or get it in the neck informal to be reprimanded or punished severely
get with it slang to allow oneself to respond to new ideas, styles, etc
get with child archaic to make pregnant

noun

rare the act of begetting
rare something begotten; offspring
British slang a variant of git
informal (in tennis, squash, etc) a successful return of a shot that was difficult to reach

determiner (preceded by a possessive)

1. (intensifier)John’s own idea; your own mother
2. (as pronoun)I’ll use my own
on behalf of oneself or in relation to oneselfhe is his own worst enemy
come into one’s own
1. to become fulfilledshe really came into her own when she got divorced
2. to receive what is due to one
get one’s own back informal to have revenge
hold one’s own to maintain one’s situation or position, esp in spite of opposition or difficulty
on one’s own
1. without help
2. by oneself; alone

verb

(tr) to have as one’s possession
(when intr, often foll by up, to, or up to) to confess or admit; acknowledge
(tr; takes a clause as object) rare to concedeI own that you are right

c.1600 (intransitive) “to return;” 1808 (transitive) “to recover” (something); meaning “retaliate” is attested by 1888.

adj.

Old English agen “one’s own,” literally “possessed by,” from Proto-Germanic *aigana- “possessed, owned” (cf. Old Saxon egan, Old Frisian egin, Old Norse eiginn, Dutch eigen, German eigen “own”), from past participle of PIE *aik- “to be master of, possess,” source of Old English agan “to have” (see owe).

evolved in early Middle English from Old English geagnian, from root agan “to have, to own” (see owe), and in part from the adjective own (q.v.). It became obsolete after c.1300, but was revived early 17c., in part as a back-formation of owner (mid-14c.), which continued. Related: Owned; owning. To own up “make full confession” is from 1853.

Old English bæc “back,” from Proto-Germanic *bakam (cf. Old Saxon and Middle Dutch bak, Old Frisian bek), with no known connections outside Germanic.

The cognates mostly have been ousted in this sense in other modern Germanic languages by words akin to Modern English ridge (cf. Danish ryg, German Rücken). Many Indo-European languages show signs of once having distinguished the horizontal back of an animal (or a mountain range) from the upright back of a human. In other cases, a modern word for “back” may come from a word related to “spine” (Italian schiena, Russian spina) or “shoulder, shoulder blade” (Spanish espalda, Polish plecy).

To turn (one’s) back on (someone or something) “ignore” is from early 14c. Behind (someone’s) back “clandestinely” is from late 14c.

To know (something) like the back of one’s hand, implying familiarity, is first attested 1893. The first attested use of the phrase is from a dismissive speech made to a character in Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Catriona”:

If I durst speak to herself, you may be certain I would never dream of trusting it to you; because I know you like the back of my hand, and all your blustering talk is that much wind to me.

The story, a sequel to “Kidnapped,” has a Scottish setting and context, and the back of my hand to you was noted in the late 19th century as a Scottish expression meaning “I will have nothing to do with you” [e.g. “Jamieson’s Dictionary of the Scottish Language”]. In English generally, the back of (one’s) hand has been used to imply contempt and rejection since at least 1300. Perhaps the connection of a menacing dismissal is what made Stevenson choose that particular anatomical reference.

late 15c., “to move (something) back,” from back (adv.). Meaning “to support” (as by a bet) is first attested 1540s. Related: Backed; backing.

adj.

Middle English, from back (n.) and back (adv.). Formerly with comparative backer (c.1400), also backermore. To be on the back burner in the figurative sense is from 1960, from the image of a cook keeping a pot there to simmer while he or she works on another concoction at the front of the stove.

early 14c., “offspring,” from get (v.). Meaning “what is got, booty” is from 14c.

adv.

late 14c., shortened from abak, from Old English on bæc “backwards, behind, aback” (see back (n.)). Back and forth attested from 1814.

c.1200, from Old Norse geta “to obtain, reach; to beget; to guess right” (past tense gatum, past participle getenn), from Proto-Germanic *getan (cf. Old Swedish gissa “to guess,” literally “to try to get”), from PIE root *ghend- “seize, take” (cf. Greek khandanein “to hold, contain,” Lithuanian godetis “be eager,” second element in Latin prehendere “to grasp, seize,” Welsh gannu “to hold, contain,” Old Church Slavonic gadati “to guess, suppose”). Meaning “to seize mentally, grasp” is from 1892.

Old English, as well as Dutch and Frisian, had the root only in compounds (e.g. begietan “to beget,” see beget; forgietan “to forget,” see forget). Vestiges of Old English cognate *gietan remain obliquely in past participle gotten and original past tense gat. The word and phrases built on it take up 29 columns in the OED 2nd edition. Related: Getting.

Get wind of “become acquainted with” is from 1840, from earlier to get wind “to get out, become known” (1722). Get out, as a command to go away, is from 1711. Get-rich-quick (adj.) attested from 1904, first in O. Henry. To get out of hand originally (1765) meant “to advance beyond the need for guidance;” sense of “to break free, run wild” is from 1892, from horses. To get on (someone’s) nerves is attested by 1970.

The posterior portion of the trunk of the human body between the neck and the pelvis; the dorsum.
The backbone or spine.

Also get back to. Return to a person, place, or condition. For example, What time will you get back? or I hope he’ll get back to the subject of this report. [c. 1600]

Recover something, as in When will I get this book back? [c. 1800]

In addition to the idioms beginning with back

back against the wall
back alley
back and fill
back and forth
back away
back burner, on a
back door
back down
back in circulation
back in harness
back number
back of
back of beyond
back off
back of one’s hand
back of one’s mind
back on one’s feet
back order
back out
back street
back the wrong horse
back to back
back to basics
back to the drawing board
back to the salt mines
back to the wall
back up
back water

also see:

a while back
behind someone’s back
break one’s back
break the back of
call back
choke back
come back
cut back
double back
draw back
drop back
eyes in the back of one’s head
fall back
fall back on
fall over (backward)
flat on one’s back
from way back
get back
get one’s back up
give the shirt off one’s back
go back on one’s word
hang back
hark(en) back
hold back
in one’s own backyard
kick back
knock back
know like a book (the back of one’s hand)
left-handed (back-handed) compliment
like water off a duck’s back
look back
monkey on one’s back
off someone’s back
pat on the back
pay back in someone’s own coin
pin someone’s ears back
play back
plow back
pull back
put one’s back in it
put one’s back up
roll back
scratch someone’s back
see the back of
set back
set back on one’s heels
set one back
set the clock back
sit back
slap on the back
snap back
stab in the back
take aback
take a back seat
take back
talk back
think back
throw back
turn back
turn one’s back on
when someone’s back is turned
with one arm tied behind one’s back
you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours

In addition to the idioms beginning with get

get a bang out of
get about
get a break
get a charge
get across
get a dirty look
get a fix
get a fix on
get a free hand
get after
get a grip on
get a hand
get a handle on
get ahead
get a head start
get a kick out of
get a life
get a line on
get a load of
get along
get a move on
get an in with
get another guess
get a rise out of
get around
get at
get a thing about
get away
get away with
get a word in edgewise
get back
get back at
get back to
get behind
get better
get busy
get by
get cracking
get credit for
get down
get down to brass tacks
get going
get goose pimples
get gray hair from
get hold of
get in
get in a snit
get in a stew
get in bad with
get in on
get in one’s hair
get in someone’s face
get in the way
get into
get into bed with
get into hot water
get into one’s head
get into the act
get into the swing of things
get into trouble
get in touch
get involved
get in with
get it
get it on
get lost
get mileage out of
get nowhere
get off
get off on
get off one’s chest
get off one’s tail
get off on the wrong foot
get off scot-free
get off someone’s back
get off the dime
get off the ground
get off the hook
get on
get one down
get one’s
get one’s
get one’s act together
get one’s bearings
get one’s comeuppance
get one’s ducks in a row
get one’s feet on the ground
get one’s feet wet
get one’s fill
get one’s hands dirty
get one’s hands on
get one’s head examined
get one’s money’s worth
get one’s own back
get one’s teeth into
get one’s walking papers
get one’s way
get one’s wires crossed
get on someone’s good side
get on someone’s nerves
get on the bandwagon
get on the stick
get on with it
get out
get out from under
get out of
get out of one’s face
get out of one’s system
get out of someone’s sight
get out of the way
get out while the getting is good
get over
get physical
get ready
get real
get religion
get rid of
get right
get rolling
get round
get set
get sick
get someone’s back up
get someone’s goat
get someone’s number
get someone wrong
get something into one’s head
get something on someone
get somewhere
get straight
get stuffed
get the advantage of
get the air
get the ax
get the ball rolling
get the better of
get the business
get the can
get the drift
get the drop on
get the feel of
get the goods on
get the hang of
get theirs
get the jump on
get the lead out
get the message
get the most out of
get the nod
get the picture
get there
get the runaround
get the sack
get the show on the road
get the upper hand
get the worst of it
get through
get through one’s head
get through to
get to
get to first base
get together
get to one’s feet
get to the bottom of
get to the heart of
get to the point
get tough with
get under someone’s skin
get up
get up one’s nerve
get up on the wrong side of bed
get up steam
get used to
get well
get what’s coming to one
get wind of
get wise to
get with it

also see:

be (get) busted
come and get it
dip (get) one’s toes into
early bird catches (gets) the worm
give as good as one gets
ground floor, get in on the
it takes getting used to
lay (get) one’s hands on
marching orders, get one’s
play hard to get
squeaky wheel gets the grease
tell someone where to get off
when the going gets tough
you get what you pay for

Also see underbecomegivehave.

In addition to the idioms beginning with own

own medicine
own person, be one’s
own up

also see:

afraid of one’s own shadow
after one’s own heart
beat someone at his or her own game
blow one’s own horn
call one’s own
close to home
come into (one’s own)
dig one’s own grave
do one’s (own) thing
dose of one’s own medicine
get (one’s own) back
get one’s (own) way
go one’s (own) way
hold one’s own
in one’s (own) interest
in one’s own backyard
in one’s own right
in one’s own world
keep one’s own counsel
know one’s own mind
leave to someone’s own devices
mind of one’s own
mind one’s own business
of one’s own accord
on one’s (own) feet
on one’s own
on one’s own account
on one’s own time
paddle one’s own canoe
pay back in one’s own coin
pay one’s (own) way
pick on (someone your own size)
pull one’s (own) weight
sign one’s own death warrant
stew in one’s own juice
take into one’s (own) hands
under one’s own steam
write one’s own ticket