get at — reach
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to be able to reach or access something, especially something difficult to get to.
Say it like a native
Textbook The remote control is in a position I cannot reach.
Native I can't get at the remote.
'Get at' is the natural verb for reaching something awkward; 'in a position I cannot reach' is clumsy.
Pattern: get at + something
In use
- The files are stored so high up that I can’t get at them without a ladder.daily life
- Sometimes, important information is hard to get at if it’s hidden deep in a website.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I can't get at to the top shelf.
✓ I can't get at the top shelf.
'Get at' takes the object directly — no 'to'.
Common collocations
get at + object— the shelf, it, the wiring, the back
Don't confuse it
Different from 'get to', which usually means 'arrive at a place'.
Related
- get at (suggest or imply) — Another meaning of 'get at' is 'suggest or imply'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.