A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

get out of town • go to the country
get out of town—(coll.) 
1
. get out of a place: If father hears
you talking like that, you’d better pack your bags and get out
of town. 2. (exclam.) used as an emphatic expression of dis-
belief: You made a ton of money on that stock? Get out of
town!
go to the country —(of election candidates) appeal to the body
of electors (appearing on television, etc.): The cry of a “cheap
breakfast table” would no longer be one “to go to the country
with.”
See also: go out on the town / go to town.
get over something • get something over
get over something —
1
. recover from an illness, shock, etc.:
George did not get over his homesickness for some time. 2.
overcome a difficulty, etc.; rise above smth.: The music indus-
try can’t get over the fact that music and video will be free.
get something over —
1
. cause smth. to become understood or
accepted: We need to get the message over that bookselling
incurs certain expenses. 2. (also: get something over with) get
smth. finished fast: Feelings of urgency and frustration often
come when you want to get the work over quickly.
get religion • lose one’s religion
get religion —
1
. acquire deep religious beliefs: She left him
when she got religion and quit the porn business. 2. resolve
to mend one’s ways (usually after a powerful experience):
When I had an automobile accident, I really got religion.
Note:
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase enter into religion—(dated) adopt a monastic life: We
must enter into religion and be made nuns by will or by force.
lose one’s religion —
1
. give up one’s religious beliefs and prac-
tices: It can be an overwhelmingly lonely experience to lose
one’s religion. 2. (U.S. coll.) lose one’s temper or one’s better
judgment: I purchased a shelf and I almost lost my religion
last night trying to put it together.