Get a life means find something better to do with your time. It's said to someone who's too absorbed in something trivial or pokes their nose into other people's business. It sounds rather rude: between friends it's a joke, but to a colleague or a stranger it's an insult.
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Get a life!; someone needs to / should get a life
- You've watched that series five times this month. Get a life!
- People who leave angry comments under every video really need to get a life.
- My friends told me to get a life after I spent the whole summer gaming.
What changed
First versionStop reading my messages and get life!
RevisionStop reading my messages and get a life!
Without the article, the phrase changes meaning: get life means to be sentenced to life in prison: He got life for murder. The little a is easy to drop, and the teasing meaning disappears with it.
Start a new life means to begin again after moving or changing jobs: She moved to Lisbon to start a new life. Have a life means you have a life outside work or other duties: I can't work every weekend, I have a life too! Get a life isn't used in these senses.
Your turn
My neighbour writes angry notes about every car parked near his house. Honestly, he needs to ___.
Show the answer
get a life — The neighbour gets angry about every car near his house, and the irritated Honestly points to the sharp get a life. Start a new life is about moving or a big turn in someone's life, not complaints about parking.
Write a message to a friend who checks work email all weekend. Tease them with get a life and suggest something specific to do.
It's Saturday and you're answering emails again. Get a life and come cycling with us by the river!
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