Catch Word #33 – Get it over with

Transcript

Jessie: Hi everybody and welcome to the latest Culips podcast. This is Jessie …

Maura: And Maura …

Jessie: And today’s episode is a Catch Word podcast.

Maura: Yes, and in the Catch Word podcast, we take a close look at one word or
expression, we give you definitions and examples, and other similar
expressions.

Jessie: And, as usual, if you’d like to learn more about today’s episode, or if you
want to listen to our other episodes, you can visit our website at Culips.com.

Maura: That‘s C-U-L-I-P-S.com.

Jessie: And at the website, you can sign up to become a member and then you can
access the Lipservice material for every episode, and that includes things
like transcripts, quizzes, and more.

Maura: Oh yeah! Check out the Lipservice.

Jessie: So Maura, what is our Catch Word expression today?

Maura: The expression today is: “to get something over with.”

Jessie: “To get something over with.”

Maura: Yeah, we usually say “to get it over with.”

Jessie: Right, but we usually don’t say it that slow.

Maura: No, I’m saying it slow so that everyone listening can understand the words
clearly.

Jessie: So, how does it sound if you were saying it in normal conversation?

Maura: Well, we say it very fast, it sounds like “get it over with.”

Jessie: Right. So the “T” kind of mixes in with the “over.”

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Maura: Exactly. It doesn’t sound like a hard T sound. So the real slow expression is:
“to get it over with.”

Jessie: “To get it over with.”

Maura: “To get it over with.” Right. That’s how we naturally say it. So now that we
know what it sounds like, what does it mean?

Jessie: Well, to get something over with is to finish something. To get it over, kind
of. So it’s over or it’s finished.

Maura: Right. Especially when it’s something that you don’t want to do. So some
kind of obligation that you have, something that maybe you have needed to
do for some time, and you just want to finish it, you just want it to be done.

Jessie: Right. So when you want to get it over with, you know you have to do it
eventually, so you’d rather do it right away so then it’s over, you don’t have
to worry about it anymore.

Maura: Right. And we most often use it for something unpleasant, something we
don’t want to do, something that isn’t fun.

Jessie: Right. Something that you want to be over.

Maura: Exactly. You’ll feel better when you know it’s done.

Jessie: Exactly.

Maura: So what are some examples with “get it over with”?

Jessie: Well, if you had to give someone bad news, you know you have to give it to
them, so you just want to get it over with. Just tell them right away so then
it’s done.

Maura: Exactly. Let’s give them an example.

Hey Jessie, I have something that I have to tell Harp, but I kind of feel bad
telling her about this.

Jessie: What is it?

Maura: Well, I borrowed her sweater last week, and when I wore it, I spilled some
wine on it.

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Jessie: Oh no.

Maura: Yeah.

Jessie: Well, Maura, you have to tell her. You may as well just get it over with.

Maura: I know, it’s going to be so hard to tell her though because I ruined it, you
know.

Jessie: Well, she’ll understand; you’ll feel better.

Maura: You’re right, I should just get it over with. I’ll call her right now.

OK, good. What’s another example of when we could use this expression?

Jessie: Well, I know when I have a lot of homework to do, if I leave it till the last
minute, I just feel guilty the whole time and I feel like I should be doing it. So
instead of leaving it, I like to just get it over with. Just do it right away and
then I don’t have to think about it.

Maura: For sure. Yeah, it’s good to get your homework over with so you can enjoy
the rest of the day.

Jessie: Right.

Maura: OK. Another example could be cleaning around your house.

Jessie: Oh yeah.

Maura: That’s not so fun.

Jessie: Yeah, lots of people don’t like that.

Maura: Right. Especially cleaning the toilet.

Jessie: Ugh, I always like getting cleaning the toilet over with first.

Maura: Exactly. So maybe you wake up in the morning and you know you have to
clean your house, but you clean the bathroom and the toilet first so that you
get it over with and the worst part is finished.

Jessie: Exactly.

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Maura: OK, cool. So if you have something unpleasant to do, you might want to get
it over with right away so it’s done or maybe it’s so bad you don’t want to do
it.

Jessie: Right. So what could we say is the opposite of “to get something over
with”?

Maura: Well, we could say that you put it off.

Jessie: Right. You could put something off.

Maura: Exactly. So, in the same way maybe you have homework to do, but it’s really
complicated and difficult and maybe it’s a really sunny day outside, so you
put off the homework for another day.

Jessie: Right. I do that a lot.

Maura: Yes. To put something off, I think, is very common.

Jessie: Actually, normally I put cleaning the toilet off.

Maura: Right. So you don’t do it right away, you wait later, maybe you wait a couple
extra days.

Jessie: Really, I should just get it over with.

Maura: Yes, but sometimes we would rather put it off.

Jessie: Right. So to put something off is to delay it or postpone it, and to get
something over with is to do it right away or finish it.

Maura: Right. To put something off means you don’t do it now, you don’t do it now,
you do it later. For sure.

Jessie: Right. Actually, Maura, you know what? Harp’s in a really bad mood today,
maybe you shouldn’t tell her about her sweater.

Maura: OK. Should I put it off?

Jessie: I think you should put it off until a day she’s in a better mood.

Maura: OK, I won’t tell her now, I’ll wait until Harp is smiling and happy and then
maybe that’s a better time to tell her about the sweater.

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Jessie: I think so.

Maura: OK, great. So we looked at two expressions today, the first one was …

Jessie: “To get it over with.”

Maura: To get something over with, to do it right away. And the other expression
was “to put something off.”

Jessie: To leave it until later.

Maura: Right. To not do it now, but do it later. Perfect. OK, that’s it for today’s
episode.

Jessie: We hate to say goodbye, but we have to get it over with.

Maura: OK, and remember, if you want to know more about this episode, go to our
website, Culips.com.

Jessie: That’s C-U-L-I-P-S.com.

Maura: This has been Maura …

Jessie: And Jessie …

Maura: See you later.

Jessie: Bye.

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Detailed Explanation

Get it over with

“To get something over with” or “to get it over with” is used when we have something
we need to finish, something we just want to be done. And like we say in this episode, it is
usually something unpleasant or a task you do not want to do.

We can always use “it” or the proper noun, too.

Here are some other examples:

Yvonne: How are you feeling?

Fiona: I really want to get my presentation over with. I am feeling so nervous.

Trevor: I really need to talk to her. I just want to get it over with.
Carson: I know it will be hard, but you will be glad you did it.

We can also say something “is over with.” This means it is finished. Maura says “… the
worst part is over with.” This means it is finished. Here is an example to see the
difference:

Julian: I just want to get the test over with. I studied so hard, so I just want to do it.
Paula: Well, it starts in a couple minutes, so you will be done soon.

Two hours later …

Paula: Are you glad it is over with now?

Julian: Yeah! Now let’s go celebrate.

Pronunciation of “get it over with”

Jessie says, “…the T mixes with ‘over’.” She means the T at the end of “it” seems to
disappear with the word “over.”

It sounds like it should be written “get i over with” or “get id over with.” Listen again to the
podcast to see how Jessie and Maura say it when they speak naturally (and fast).

Would rather
“Would rather” is very similar to the word “prefer” or “would prefer.” “Would rather” is
used when there is an option or choice and we want to do one option/choice more than the
other.

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Jessie uses it to say, “…you would just rather do it and get it over with so you don’t
have to worry about it anymore.” In this case, the two choices are very simple: to do it or
to not do it. Jessie says a person would rather do it so they can get it over with. That is
the choice they make.

Here are some more examples with “would rather”:

Xavier: What do you want to do? See a movie or go for a walk?

Justine: I would rather see a movie. I’m tired.

Adam: Do you want to go to the party?

Vicky: I don’t know. I am really hungry right now.
Adam: Would you rather eat first then?
Vicky: OK, then we can go to the party after.

Have to
A synonym for “have to” is “must.” When we say “have to” it is an obligation. We use
this in this episode because often something you want to get over with is also an
obligation, something you have to do.

When native speakers say “have to” we often say something that sounds more like
“hafto” or “hafta.” We do not always pronounce our words clearly.

Jessie says, “Well Maura, you have to tell her” in the example with Harp’s sweater.
Jessie’s pronunciation sounds like, “Well Maura, you hafta tell her.” Listen again to hear
this natural native speaker pronunciation.

May as well
This is an expression that we also use (like “would rather”) when we have options. When
we use “may as well” it means that we are choosing to do one thing, but it is not
necessarily the thing we want to do.

For whatever reason we make a choice, but we are not excited about it. Sometimes we
choose an option because it is close or easy, but it is not interesting.

Jessie says, “You may as well just get it over with.” In this case, the other option is to
not tell Harp about the wine on her sweater. Maura is not excited about telling Harp, but it
is one of the options.

Let’s look at some other examples with “may as well”:

Ruth: I want to go out tonight, but I am not sure what I want to do.

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Vivianne: You may as well go to Carrie’s party. What else are you going to do?
(There are many other options not named.)

George: I think you may as well take the test. Even if you don’t pass, at least you
tried. (The other option is not taking the test.)

Sarah: How are you going to get to Toronto this weekend?

Jim: I might as well take the train. It is the cheapest way.
(The other options are car, plane, train, etc.)

We can also say “might as well” and it has the same meaning as “may as well.”

Ruin
As a verb, “to ruin” is to destroy something, or to affect something in a negative way.
Here are some examples where something is ruined:

Gwen: Yesterday, I painted a picture of the tree in my backyard. I left it outside to

dry, but then it rained. Now it is ruined. (The rain ruined the picture.)

Charlie: I tried to make a cake this weekend, but after I put it in the oven, I forgot
about it. I smelled something burning and when I got to it, it was already
ruined. I ruined the dessert.

Jessie: Well Maura, you have to tell her. You may as well just get it over with.
Maura: I know, but it’s going to be so hard to tell her because I ruined it.

The last minute

We can say “the last minute” or “the last second” when it is
the last possible time for something. In action movies, the
heroes are often saved at the last minute (the last possible
moment to be saved).

Some students leave their homework to the last minute (the

last chance to do their homework before it must be given to
the teacher). Jessie says if she leaves her homework to the
last minute she feels guilty about not doing it sooner.

Rest
This word can be used in a variety of different ways, but in this case, “rest” means the
part that remains. Some part has been used or removed or does not exist anymore, but
there is some part still there.

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Maura says, “For sure, it is good to get your homework over with so that you can enjoy
the rest of the day.” “The rest of the day” is the part that remains. If it is lunchtime, the
rest of the day is the afternoon and evening.

Here are some other examples with “rest”:

Jen: Can I have some more ice cream?

Tania: Sure. There is only one more scoop. You have the rest. (You have the ice
cream that remains.)

Devon: Do you want to go out to a restaurant now?

Zack: I am just finishing a movie now. I want to watch the rest of it. Then we can
go out after. It will be finished in 15 minutes.

Teacher: For the first part of today we will discuss the present perfect verb tense. Then
for the rest of the class we will review from yesterday.

Ugh
“Ugh” is not a real word, it is a sound. It is a sound to show
disgust at something. Jessie makes this sound, “ugh” when
she talks about cleaning the toilet. Cleaning the toilet is a
gross job! Here are some other disgusting and gross
examples when people might say “ugh”.

Jon: This afternoon I was talking down the street and

then I noticed I had stepped in gum. Ugh, it was
really gross trying to clean off my shoe!

Lucy: Last night my dog vomited all over my couch.

Candace: Ugh. I would hate to clean that up.

Put it off
We recently talked about the expression “to put off” something in the Catch Word
episode called Rain Check. Because when you take a rain check, you put something off.
To find out about “to put off” check out the Lipservice for Rain Check (Catch Word #32).

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Quiz (see the answers at the end of this Lipservice)

1. Which is the focus expression in this episode

a) Get it under
b) Get it over with
c) Get with it
d) Get over it

2. Susan: I am ___________. I want to get it over with.

Please fill in the blank.

a) excited to do it.
b) really looking forward to it.
c) not excited about it.
d) happy to do it.

3. When “get it over with” is said by a native speaker quickly, what does it
sounds like in slang?

a) get id over with

b) greet it over with
c) get is over with
d) get it oder with

4. What is a synonym to “would rather”?

a) render
b) prefer
c) prescribe
d) provide

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 5. If you leave a painting out in the rain and snow, it will be ______.

Please fill in the blank.

a) ruined
b) runed
c) ringed
d) raned

6. What is the opposite of “get it over with”?

a) put it on
b) pick it up
c) push it up
d) put it off

7. Walter: Do you want to do research at the library or on the Internet?

Madison: We ____________ look for some books, since we are already at
the library.

Please fill in the blank.

a) well
b) may
c) may as well
d) as well may

Answers: 1.b 2.c 3.a 4.b 5.a 6.d 7.c

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