Get the drift of Meaning in English
expression
ˈɡɛt/, /ˈɡɪt/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈdɹɪft/ /ˈəv
GET thuh DRIFT uhv
ɡˈɛt/ /ðə, ði/ /dɹˈɪft/ /ˈɒv
get thuh DRIFT ov
Definition
To understand the general meaning or main idea of something, even if you do not know all the details.
Usage & Nuances
Informal and often used when someone is starting to understand a conversation or explanation. Commonly appears in questions ('Do you get the drift?'). Can be used with 'my', 'his', etc. ('get my drift'). Not about details, just the main point.
Spanish: pillar la idea de - captar el sentido dePortuguese (BR): captar a ideia de - sacar o sentido dePortuguese (PT): perceber a ideia de - entender o sentido deChinese (Simplified): 明白...的大意 - 理解...的意思Chinese (Traditional): 明白...的大意 - 理解...的意思Hindi: ...का अंदाज़ा लगाना - ...की बात समझनाArabic: فهم مغزى - استيعاب فكرةBengali: মূল কথা বোঝা - সারমর্ম বুঝতে পারাRussian: схватывать суть - уловить основной смыслJapanese: 大意をつかむ - 要点を理解するVietnamese: hiểu ý chính - nắm được đại ýKorean: 요점을 이해하다 - 대강 알다Turkish: ana fikri anlamak - özünü kavramakUrdu: مفہوم سمجھنا - بات کی اصل سمجھناIndonesian: mengerti maksud utama - menangkap inti pembicaraan
Example Sentences
Did you get the drift of what she was saying?
basic
I didn't get the drift of the instructions.
basic
If you get the drift of this story, you will know why he left.
basic
You don't have to explain every detail, I get the drift of what you mean.
natural
By now, I think everyone gets the drift of the plan.
natural
He didn't say it directly, but I got the drift of what he was hinting at.
natural