get an idea of vs get an idea on

Both 'get an idea of' and 'get an idea on' are commonly used phrases in English, but 'get an idea of' is more widely accepted and preferred. 'Get an idea on' is less common and may sound awkward to some native speakers.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 2240 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"get an idea of"

This phrase is used to indicate understanding or perception of a concept, situation, or topic.

Examples:

I need to get an idea of how the project is progressing.
Can you help me get an idea of what the new software does?
It's important to get an idea of the customer's needs before designing the product.
Let's get an idea of what the competition is offering.
I want to get an idea of how the market is responding to our new product.

Show examples from the web [+]

With that information, we might get an idea of the Ikarrans.
To get an idea of how tiny it is, I have here an eyedropper.
If I could come in, perhaps we could get an idea of the colours you prefer.
I need to ring an estate agent and get an idea of a fair price.
I figure if I find out what they want stolen, I might get an idea of who they are.
I think I'm beginning to get an idea of why you're having so much trouble getting this business off the ground.
Just tell me where you live, your area and everything, so I can get an idea of your surroundings.
I am totally dissatisfied with the response because it was not out of idle curiosity that I wanted to know which Member States had caused difficulties but in order to get an idea of the extent of the failure to indicate the areas of biodiversity.
And to get an idea of what it consisted of, and to put it in context in relationship to this whole second myth about it being no big thing, we can look at this second slide here.
I was trying anything to get an idea of the mystery man, so I analyzed the strontium isotope composition of his teeth.
We'd like to get an idea of the damage.
We're talking to everyone who knew Miss Jenkins, trying to get an idea of her movements over the last week or so.
To get an idea of what is needed we should finally implement our own decision of the year 2000 and send an ad hoc delegation to Chechnya.
You see, anyone can kick a football around and get an idea of what it would be like to be David Beckham.
Well, often they'll wait a few days before the arraignment so that the suspect can get an idea of what prison would be like.
You can have a look in your father's to get an idea of what to put in.
We just wanted to get an idea of what was involved.
Take your pants off. It's important I get an idea of your size.
I'd like to show it real quick to Marvin, just to get an idea of what he thinks.
You need to multiply those EUR 146 million by approximately eight in order to get an idea of what the impact could be.

Alternatives:

gain an understanding of
grasp the concept of
comprehend the situation
get a sense of
familiarize oneself with

This phrase is less common and may sound awkward to some native speakers.

"get an idea on"

This phrase is used to indicate understanding or perception of a concept, situation, or topic, but it is less preferred than 'get an idea of'.

Examples:

Let's get an idea on how the project is progressing.
Can you help me get an idea on what the new software does?
It's important to get an idea on the customer's needs before designing the product.
Let's get an idea on what the competition is offering.
I want to get an idea on how the market is responding to our new product.

Show examples from the web [+]

Let's get an idea on the vote.
Look! Judy, Mickey, you can't just get an idea and put on a show in the barn.
Every time you get an idea, something happens to me.
With that information, we might get an idea of the Ikarrans.
But one day he gets an idea.
People were starting to get an idea that dinosaurs were special.
Once my mom gets an idea in her head, there's no stopping her.
I wonder where she'd get an idea like that.
There's no stopping him when he gets an idea, Til.
Get an idea of what life was like in the service.
Just trying to get an idea Of where that energy burst came from.
I was trying anything to get an idea of the mystery man, so I analyzed the strontium isotope composition of his teeth.
Hercules notices that these repulsive stables lie between two powerful rivers, and he gets an idea.
He hits me in the mouth a couple times, and he gets an idea.
She gets an idea in her head and then that's it.
To get an idea of how tiny it is, I have here an eyedropper.
We'd like to get an idea of the damage.
I'm not sure I'm beginning to get an idea.
Yes, when my son gets an idea in his head, it's hard to shake him of it.
We need to get an idea, fast, of how much this thing bleeds.

Alternatives:

get an idea of
gain an understanding of
grasp the concept of
comprehend the situation
get a sense of

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get an idea of vs get an idea on

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