get back meaning: definition, quotations

get back

verb

Return to where one came from.

When I get back from holiday, I expect the house to be tidy.
He had one hand on the bounce bottle—and he'd never let go of that since he got back to the table—but he had a handkerchief in the other and was swabbing his deadlights with it.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VI, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:

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The night air may have sobered him a bit by the time they got back to Beattock.1950 January, David L. Smith, “A Runaway at Beattock”, in Railway Magazine, page 53:

With with or to Reply (to someone); follow up (with someone).

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Please get back with me about his complaint. ["with" here connotes "meet with", physically or virtually.]

To retrieve (something); to have (something) returned.

I lent her my guitar over the Christmas holidays, and will get it back when the term starts.

Often, With at or against To do something to hurt or harm (someone) who has hurt or harmed one; to take revenge.

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Canada, US, Colloquial To repay; to return the favor.

People are afraid to let you know how much money they have because they don't want to turn into the “Bank of Michelle.” I can understand that. Don't want to get jacked into a “Hey, can I borrow five hundred bucks till next week dude? I'm a little short. I'll get you back though.”2005, James O'Neill, The Gas Can, →ISBN, page 57:
“Hey, Jade, think I can borrow like twenty bucks? The guy who pays me to clean fish is out of town. Gotta buy some dog food.” I looked at Todd—it had been all of a week since our Roughhouse fight, but I guess the money hadn't lasted. I took a twenty out of my wallet. “Thanks, man. I'll get you back after our next fight.” ”Sure," I said, but I knew the money was as good as gone.2024, Jaed Coffin, Roughhouse Friday: A Memoir, →ISBN: