get over and done with/ get over with/ get done with something.

Status
Not open for further replies.

Ashraful Haque

Senior Member
Joined
May 14, 2019
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Bengali; Bangla
Home Country
Bangladesh
Current Location
Bangladesh
I've looked up:
- I just want to get this over and done with.
- I just want to get this over with.
- I just want to be done with this.

And they all pretty much have the same definition. Are they really interchangeable?
 
Pretty much.
 
Pretty much.
Okay I just looked up pretty much, which I used subconsciously in my post. And it means 'very nearly.' So there are subtle differences. According to what I've learned so far all of them roughly mean that you want to finish doing something for good specially something unpleasant. Here's a context:

I'm preparing a presentation but I feel like playing a video game. At the same time I don't want to leave it for the last minute so I say:
- I just want to get this over and done with.
- I just want to get this over with.
- I just want to be done with this.

Are all of these natural here?
 
Pretty much.
 
Pretty much.
In a casual conversation (not a grammar class) if I said- 'I just want to get this game over and done with/get this game over with/be done with this game' would a native speaker find it even a little bit awkward?


 
In a casual conversation (not a grammar class) if I said- 'I just want to get this game over and done with/get this game over with/be done with this game' would a native speaker find it even a little bit awkward?
The second one is the most natural. Number three is possible. Number one is rather awkward.
 
The second one is the most natural. Number three is possible. Number one is rather awkward.
Is it because games aren't usually frustrating like a presentation or exam? I've seen people saying 'I just want to get this presentation over and done with.'
How about in this context:
I just deleted a game this morning out of frustration. It was repetitive and boring but I really wanted to finish it as it took a lot time to download (games are over 100gb each these days). What if I say "I just want to get this game over and done with" after I found it boring.
Or what if my job is to test play games before releasing at a game developing company?
 
Is it because games aren't usually frustrating like a presentation or exam? . . .
No. It has nothing to do with games versus presentations versus exams. It's just because "I want to get this game over with" is the most concise.

Adding "and done" makes it slightly more emphatic. But just saying "over with" is more common.
 
No. It has nothing to do with games versus presentations versus exams. It's just because "I want to get this game over with" is the most concise.

Adding "and done" makes it slightly more emphatic. But just saying "over with" is more common.
Since 'pretty much' is the most number of answers I got, out of the three which one do you think a non-native speaker should stick to for most contexts.
 
Thank you once again for the answer. Do the following sentences sound good to you:
1) I want to get this homework over with before the match starts.
2) Only one target left. Lets kill the guy and get this over with.
3) One more set left then you can leave the gym and rest all you want. Let's get it over with!
 
Thank you once again for the answer. Do the following sentences sound good to you:
1) I want to get this homework over with before the match starts.
2) Only one target left. Lets kill the guy and get this over with.
3) One more set left, then you can leave the gym and rest all you want. Let's get it over with!
Yes, indeed they do!
 
2) Only one target left. Let's kill the guy and get this over with.

See above. It's odd that you correctly used the apostrophe in sentence 3 but omitted it in sentence 2.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ask a Teacher

If you have a question about the English language and would like to ask one of our many English teachers and language experts, please click the button below to let us know:

(Requires Registration)
Back
Top