get down

start to give serious attention to something

B2

What does "get down" mean?

To get down to something means to stop doing other things and start giving your full, serious attention to a particular task or topic. It signals a clear shift — away from small talk, delays, or preparation — and into real, focused work. The phrase almost always implies that there has been some kind of preamble or procrastination before this moment of serious engagement begins. You'll hear it a lot in professional and business settings, but it's equally natural in everyday conversation. It's especially common in suggestions and instructions, where someone is signalling that it's time to stop chatting and actually start.

Examples

How to use it

get down to + noun

The most common pattern, used with nouns that refer to tasks, topics, or activities.

Right, let's get down to business — there's a lot to discuss.

get down to + gerund (-ing form)

When followed by a verb, it must be in the -ing form, never a bare infinitive.

We finally got down to planning the new marketing strategy.

get down to it

The pronoun 'it' is used when the task is already understood from context, making this a very natural short form.

Enough warm-up — it's time to get down to it.

modal verb + get down to + noun/gerund

This phrasal verb very frequently appears after modal verbs like should, need to, must, or in 'let's' constructions.

We should get down to the details before the client arrives.

Common Collocations

get down to businessget down to workget down to itget down to the detailsget down to discussingget down to planning

Common Mistakes

Using a bare infinitive after 'to'

After 'get down to', you must use a noun or a gerund (-ing form), not a bare infinitive. This is one of the most common errors with this phrase.

✗ We need to get down to discuss the budget.
✓ We need to get down to discussing the budget.
Confusing with 'get on with'

'Get down to' describes the moment you begin focusing seriously on something, often after a delay or small talk. 'Get on with' means to continue or proceed with something already underway — use it when there's no need to signal a fresh start.

✗ Stop wasting time and get down to your work — you were doing so well.
✓ Stop wasting time and get on with your work — you were doing so well.
Confusing with other senses of 'get down'

'Get down to' (begin focusing) always has 'to' followed by a task or topic. If there's no 'to', the phrase likely means something different — such as feeling depressed or moving to a lower position.

✗ This cold weather really gets me down to.
✓ This cold weather really gets me down. / Let's get down to solving the problem.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both professional and everyday contexts. It is especially common in suggestions and imperatives, often signalling it is time to stop chatting and start focusing on the real task.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'get down to' always need an object after 'to'?

Almost always, yes — you need either a noun or a gerund after 'to'. The one exception is the short form 'get down to it', where 'it' stands in for a task that's already clear from context. You can't just say 'let's get down to' without anything following.

What kinds of things can follow 'get down to'?

Typically nouns referring to tasks or topics — like 'business', 'work', 'the details', or 'the real issue' — or gerunds like 'discussing', 'planning', or 'writing'. It collocates especially well with fixed expressions like 'get down to business', 'get down to the nitty-gritty', and 'get down to brass tacks'.

Can 'get down to' be used in the passive?

No — this phrasal verb can't be used in the passive. The subject is always the person doing the focusing, and there's no direct object that could become the subject of a passive sentence.

Does 'get down to' have other meanings?

Yes — 'get down' (without 'to') has different meanings, such as to depress someone or to move to a lower position. The sense of beginning serious work is always identified by the presence of 'to' followed by a task or topic, so context usually makes things clear.

Is 'get down to' more common in British or American English?

It's used in both British and American English with no significant regional difference. You'll hear it in professional settings, meetings, and everyday conversation on both sides of the Atlantic.

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