Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

Get the hang of it

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Get the hang of it" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourProblem Solving & Interaction collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Problem Solving & Interaction

Get the hang of it

Get the hang of it
To learn how to do or use something correctly; to gain a capability or understanding through practice.
History & Origin

The phrase originates from the mid-19th century mechanics and woodworking trades, where the 'hang' of a tool—such as an axe or a scythe—referred to the precise angle and balance of the blade in relation to its wooden handle. To 'get the hang' of a tool meant a laborer had adjusted it properly to match their body proportions, allowing them to use it efficiently and safely.

Examples
Workplace Email

The new project management software seems a bit complicated at first, but once you play around with the dashboard, you will quickly get the hang of it.

Casual Conversation

Don't worry about falling off the surfboard on your first day; it takes a few tries to get the hang of it.

Academic Writing

When students transition from qualitative analysis to complex statistical modeling, they typically require several weeks of laboratory practice to get the hang of it.

News/Media

Remote workers initially struggled with managing their home-work boundaries during the pandemic, but most eventually managed to get the hang of it.

Formal Speech

Navigating the intricate diplomatic protocols of international governance can be daunting, yet our newly appointed ambassadors always manage to get the hang of it.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. After practicing on the driving simulator for three hours, Sarah finally managed to get the hang of it and passed her real road test easily.

B. The heavy painting was slipping from the wall, so James ran over to get the hang of it before it crashed onto the floor.

C. If you don't wear your coat outside in the freezing winter weather, you will definitely get the hang of it and become sick.

D. The company decided to get the hang of it by firing the low-performing manager and restructuring the entire sales department.