get ready

Meaning

This expression means to prepare yourself, someone else, or something for an event, activity, or departure. It is highly conversational and can refer to dressing up, packing bags, or mentally preparing for a challenge.

Examples

• Hurry up and get ready, or we are going to miss the train!

  Hurry up and get ready, or we are going to miss the train!

• It takes her about forty minutes to get ready in the morning.

  It takes her about forty minutes to get ready in the morning.

• We need to get ready for the winter by buying some warm clothes.

  We need to get ready for the winter by buying some warm clothes.

• The team is getting ready for their biggest match of the season.

  The team is getting ready for their biggest match of the season.

• I always get ready for bed by drinking a warm cup of chamomile tea.

  I always get ready for bed by drinking a warm cup of chamomile tea.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to prepare myself for the party tonight.

  ✓ I need to get ready for the party tonight.

  While 'prepare myself' is grammatically correct, it sounds overly formal for everyday situations like dressing up. 'Get ready' is the natural, conversational choice.

• ✗ He is getting ready to the exam next week.

  ✓ He is getting ready for the exam next week.

  Use the preposition 'for' when preparing for an event or object, or use 'to + verb' (e.g., 'getting ready to take the exam').

Related Expressions

Practice

• Give me ten minutes to ___ and then we can leave.

  💡 prepare myself (dress, pack, etc.)

  Show answer

  get ready

• Are you ___ for the big presentation tomorrow?

  💡 preparing yourself

  Show answer

  getting ready