get ahold of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "get ahold of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the need to gain possession of something or to make contact with someone. Example: I can't seem to get ahold of the office supplies I need for the project.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Get ahold of yourself!

The New York Times

"Nachman, get ahold of yourself!

The New Yorker

So let's get ahold of ourselves.

The New York Times

"Nachman_,_ get ahold of yourself!

The New Yorker

"If Blair needs to get ahold of me, he will".

The New York Times - Sports

I finally started to get ahold of the concept..

The New York Times

"Why?" "I tried and tried to get ahold of you".

The New Yorker

"I told her I could get ahold of them.

The New York Times

Get ahold of me here on via email.

Independent

"We're going to get ahold of this," Rich told her.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Unfortunately, we couldn't get ahold of them for an interview.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "get ahold of" when you want to express that it may take effort to contact someone or obtain something.

Common error

Avoid using "get ahold of" in highly formal documents or presentations. While generally acceptable, it can sometimes be perceived as too casual. Choose more formal synonyms like "contact", "obtain", or "acquire" in professional contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "get ahold of" primarily functions as a verb phrase. Ludwig confirms it's usable in written English. It's used to express the action of contacting someone, obtaining something, or gaining control.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academic

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "get ahold of" is a versatile expression used to convey contacting someone, obtaining something, or regaining control. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. While it's widely accepted and very common, ranging from news articles to casual conversations, it's best to consider your audience and the context. For formal settings, more direct alternatives like "contact" or "obtain" might be more fitting. Remember to use "get ahold of" when you want to imply some degree of effort or intention in connecting or acquiring. Be mindful of the register and adapt your language to suit the occasion. The main usage contexts are News & Media, Wiki and Science.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get in touch with

This emphasizes the act of establishing communication.

make contact with

This is a more formal way of saying "get in touch with".

reach out to

This implies making an effort to communicate with someone.

contact

This is a more direct and formal way to say "get ahold of" when referring to communication.

obtain

This focuses on the act of acquiring or getting possession of something.

collect

Focuses on the action of gathering objects.

acquire

Similar to obtain, but can imply a more formal or deliberate process.

gain possession of

A more formal and detailed way of expressing the act of getting something.

take control of

This focuses on gaining command or management over something or someone.

compose oneself

This emphasizes regaining emotional control.

FAQs

What does "get ahold of" mean?

The phrase "get ahold of" has several meanings. It can mean to contact someone, to obtain something, or to take control of one's emotions or a situation. The specific meaning depends on the context in which it is used.

How can I use "get ahold of" in a sentence?

Here are some examples: "I need to "get ahold of" the tickets for the concert"; "You need to "get ahold of" yourself and calm down"; "I'll try to "get ahold of" him later today".

What can I say instead of "get ahold of" when I want to contact someone?

You can use alternatives like "contact", "reach out to", or "get in touch with" depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "get ahold of" when I want to obtain something?

Alternatives include "obtain", "acquire", or "gain possession of".