get through

Meaning

To successfully complete, endure, or survive a difficult task, period, or requirement. In academic contexts, students often use it to talk about finishing long readings, passing hard exams, or completing demanding semesters.

Examples

• I don't know how I'm going to get through this pile of reading before tomorrow.

  I don't know how I'm going to get through this pile of reading before tomorrow.

• If we can just get through final exams week, we can finally relax.

  If we can just get through final exams week, we can finally relax.

• She managed to get through the presentation despite being incredibly nervous.

  She managed to get through the presentation despite being incredibly nervous.

• It took me three hours to get through the first chapter of the biology textbook.

  It took me three hours to get through the first chapter of the biology textbook.

• We need to get through this group project so we can focus on our individual essays.

  We need to get through this group project so we can focus on our individual essays.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to get through of this book by Friday.

  ✓ I need to get through this book by Friday.

  'Get through' is a transitive phrasal verb that takes a direct object. Do not add the preposition 'of' after 'through'.

• ✗ He got through his exams with studying hard.

  ✓ He got through his exams by studying hard.

  To show the method used to successfully complete or endure the challenge, use 'by' followed by a gerund, not 'with'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I have so many articles to read; I don't know how I'll ___ them all.

  💡 This phrasal verb means to finish or complete a large amount of work.

  Show answer

  get through

• We just need to ___ this semester, and then we have summer break.

  💡 This means to survive or endure a difficult period.

  Show answer

  get through