get down

[dilodi83]

- Why do you always put the dishes on the tip shelf? I cannot get them down.
- The firefighters got the people down from the roof.

My question is: Is "get down" in this context an informal synonym of "reach down"? Are they used in the same way? Which is used more in everyday's language?

[Raymott]

- Why do you always put the dishes on the top shelf? I cannot get them down.
- The firefighters got the people down from the roof.

My question is: Is "get down" in this context an informal synonym of "reach down"? Are they used in the same way? Which is used more in everyday's language?

No, it doesn't mean 'reach down'.
This meaning is really quite literal. "I can't get the plates down from the top shelf" - The plates are up on the top shelf. I can't achieve my aim of getting them to be down where I want them.
The fireman achieved his aim of getting the people on the roof to be down on the street.

[dilodi83]

No, it doesn't mean 'reach down'.
This meaning is really quite literal. "I can't get the plates down from the top shelf" - The plates are up on the top shelf. I can't achieve my aim of getting them to be down where I want them.
The fireman achieved his aim of getting the people on the roof to be down on the street.

I cannot get the difference with "reach down"...

[emsr2d2]

"To reach down" as a phrasal verb means that you stretch your arm in a downward direction. If you were standing up and saw a dollar on the ground, you would reach down to pick it up.

However, "to reach something down" can mean to "reach up" for something high and bring it to a lower position. "I'm very short. Can you reach that box down for me please?"

With your first example: "Why do you always put the dishes on the top shelf? I cannot get them down" could also be said as "I cannot reach them" or potentially "I cannot reach them down".

The second example is different. The firemen did not simply reach up with their hands and move people from the top of a burning building to the ground. They performed a proper rescue, with ladders etc. In that context, they got the people down safely.

[Barb_D]

I think "reach them down" might not have made it across the pond.

[emsr2d2]

I think "reach them down" might not have made it across the pond.

I would use "get it/them down" most frequently, but "reach it/them down" is used.

[amigos4]

I think "reach them down" might not have made it across the pond.

It also never made it down from the top shelf!

[Raymott]

I've never heard of "reach something down".

[emsr2d2]

I've no idea if it's regional British English, but in the South of England I've heard "Can you reach that down for me?" or "I can't reach it down. I'm too short" my entire life.

[Rover_KE]

I'd only ever say 'Please don't put the cups on the top shelf: I can't reach them'.

In a supermarket I find a tall guy and say 'Will you reach me one of those bottles from the top shelf, please'.

Rover