Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (55 page)

gee
an expression of disappointment, disagreement, surprise, or other emotions. (Words such as this often use intonation to convey the connotation of the sentence that is to follow. The brief intonation pattern accompanying the word may indicate sarcasm, disagreement, caution, consolation, sternness, etc.)
“Gee, why not?” whined Billy
.
B
ILL
: Gee, I really want to go. J
ANE
: Well then, go ahead and go!
J
OHN
: Gee, Tom, I'm sort of surprised. T
OM
: You shouldn't be
.
A
LICE
: Gee, I thought you were gone. B
OB
: No, I'm still here.

Get back to me (on this)
.
Report back to me. (Often a deadline is added.)
T
OM
: Here's a contract for you to go over. Get back to me on this by Monday morning. M
ARY
: Sure thing, Tom
.
A
LICE
: When you have this thing figured out, get back to me, and we'll talk. T
OM
: Righto.

Get it?
Go to (Don't you) get it?

Get lost
!
Go away!; Stop bothering me!
B
ILL
: I'm still real mad at you. T
OM
: Bill! Bill! I'm sorry about it. Let's talk. B
ILL
: Get lost!
Fred kicked his foot at the dog behind him and shouted, “Get lost, you worthless mutt!
”

Get my drift?
Go to (Do you) get my drift?

Get off my back
!
Stop harassing me!; Leave me alone about this matter! (Slang.)
T
OM
: You'd better get your paper written. B
ILL
: I'll do it when I'm good and ready. Get off my back!
A
LICE
: I'm tired of your constant criticism! Get off my back! J
ANE
: I was just trying to help.

Get off my tail! 1
.
Stop following me!; Stop following me so closely! (Slang.)
There was a car following too close, and Tom shouted into the rearview mirror, “Get off my tail!
”
T
OM
: Look, Bill, don't you have something else to do? Quit following me around! Get off my tail! B
ILL
: Can I help it if we both go to the same places?
2
.
Get off my back!
T
OM
: You'd better get your laundry done. B
ILL
: I'll do it when I'm good and ready. Get off my tail!
B
ILL
: Get off my tail! I don't need a watchdog! J
ANE
: You do too.