Get the drift of Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈɡɛt/, /ˈɡɪt/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈdɹɪft/ /ˈəv

GET thuh DRIFT uhv

UK

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 de
• Portuguese (BR): captar a ideia de - sacar o sentido de
• Portuguese (PT): perceber a ideia de - entender o sentido de
• Chinese (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 समझना
• Arabic: فهم مغزى - استيعاب فكرة
• Bengali: মূল কথা বোঝা - সারমর্ম বুঝতে পারা
• Russian: схватывать суть - уловить основной смысл
• Japanese: 大意をつかむ - 要点を理解する
• Vietnamese: hiểu ý chính - nắm được đại ý
• Korean: 요점을 이해하다 - 대강 알다
• Turkish: ana fikri anlamak - özünü kavramak
• Urdu: مفہوم سمجھنا - بات کی اصل سمجھنا
• Indonesian: 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