Preview（腕試し）

Naoki: Did your boss approve the new plan?

Kaoru: Unfortunately, he didn't. I tried hard to explain the plan, but I couldn't get my ideas across clearly.

Kaoru means:

A. He couldn't get his ideas over the desk.

B. He couldn't jump over the desk.

C. He couldn't get his boss to understand his ideas.

D. He was very successful.

　

Quick Glossary （用語辞典）

an executive = 役職者

reject = 拒絶する

object = 目的語

pronoun = 代名詞

Examples（例文）

This idiom means "to make one's idea or thoughts understood by another person."

I couldn't get my idea across to the executives, so they rejected my plan.

Were you able to get across your reason for needing a raise?

　

Grammar Notes （文法）

This is a separable phrasal verb. That means that the object can be placed in the middle of the phrasal verb or after the phrasal verb. Note that if a pronoun is used, it is only placed in the middle of the phrasal verb.

1. Good: I want to get across my thoughts.

2. Good: I want to get my thoughts across.

3. Good: I want to get them across.　

4. Not good: I want to get across them.　　

　

Exercises （練習）

1. Which of the following is unnatural?

A. Kaoru couldn't get his ideas across.

B. Kaoru couldn't get across them.

C. Kaoru couldn't get them across.

D. Kaoru couldn't get across his ideas.

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2. Type the missing word in the box.

It took a long time, but I finally got my idea to the students.