Meaning trap
get over
accept mentally
To come to terms with or accept a difficult fact, idea, or situation, especially when it is surprising or hard to believe.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To come to terms with or accept a difficult fact, idea, or situation, especially when it is surprising or hard to believe.
'get over' also has the more basic meaning 'recover from'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- I just can't get over how quickly she solved that complex problem.psychology
- Many people find it hard to get over the fact that technology is changing traditional jobs at such a rapid pace.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: get over + noun (abstract/concept)
WrongI can't get over of how big it is.
RightI can't get over how big it is.
'Get over' takes the clause directly — no 'of'.
Patternget over + noun (abstract/concept)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'I can't get over...' is the natural way to express amazement or disbelief; the formal version flattens it.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
can't get over + facthow muchhow bigitthe change
Don't confuse it
Unlike the B1 sense of 'get over' (recovering from illness or disappointment), this sense is about mentally processing and accepting a fact or situation, not about emotional or physical recovery.
Related
- get over (recover from) — 'get over' also has the more basic meaning 'recover from'; this is the advanced sense.