1 C1 idiomatic informal
To direct or motivate someone to begin or continue working on a specific task immediately.
"We need the report by Friday — get him at it as soon as he arrives."
separable
get someone at it
C1 informal separable transitive
To get someone actively working on or engaged in a task, usually immediately.
In plain English
To make someone start doing something right away.
What does "get someone at it" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Fairly informal and mostly British. Often used by someone in authority who wants another person to begin a task without delay. 'It' usually refers to a task already known from context. Less common than alternatives like 'get someone on it' or 'get someone started.'
Words that pair with "get someone at it"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
right away straightaway immediately work job task
How to conjugate "get someone at it"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
get someone at it
I/you/we/they
3rd person
gets someone at it
he/she/it
Past simple
got someone at it
yesterday
Past participle
got/gotten someone at it
have + pp
-ing form
getting someone at it
continuous
Hear "get someone at it" in the wild
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Other ways to say "get someone at it"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
assign someone get someone going get someone started mobilise someone put someone to work set someone to work
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