Meaning trap
get through
make phone contact
To succeed in making contact with someone by phone.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To succeed in making contact with someone by phone.
Another meaning of 'get through' is 'finish a difficult task'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- I tried calling her all morning but couldn't get through.communication
- Sometimes it's difficult to get through to customer service during busy hours.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: get through (to someone)
WrongI called all day but couldn't get through the office.
RightI called all day but couldn't get through to the office.
To reach a person by phone, it's 'get through TO' them. Without 'to', it means finish a task.
Patternget through (to someone)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Get through to' is the natural phrase for reaching someone by phone; 'establish telephone contact' is bureaucratic.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
get through to + personto the officeto herto supporton the phone
Don't confuse it
Not the same as 'call back,' which means to return a call.
Related
- get through (finish a difficult task) — Another meaning of 'get through' is 'finish a difficult task'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.