"get an idea of" vs "get an idea on"

Question

"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

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.

Alternatives:

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

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.

Alternatives:

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

Answer 1

get an idea of

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

get an idea on

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

"get an idea of" vs "get an idea on"

get an idea of

get an idea on

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