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Meaning trap

get through

survive a hard period

To manage to live or deal with a difficult or unpleasant time.

phrasal verbB1common

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

survive a hard period

To manage to live or deal with a difficult or unpleasant time.

get through (finish a difficult task)

Another meaning of 'get through' is 'finish a difficult task'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.

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Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • She got through the illness with the support of her friends.health
  • Many people find it hard to get through stressful times without help.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: get through (something)

WrongI couldn't get through with such a hard week without you.

RightI couldn't get through such a hard week without you.

'Get through' a hard time takes the object directly — no 'with'.

Patternget through (something)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff She endured an exceedingly difficult period.

Natural She got through a really tough time.

'Get through' is the natural verb for surviving a hard period; 'endured an exceedingly difficult period' is heavy.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • get through + hard time
    a tough timethe weekit togetherthis

Don't confuse it

'Get through' focuses on surviving the period, not fully recovering from it.

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