(Do you) get my drift?
Do you understand what I mean?; Do you understand what I am getting at? Father: I want you to settle down and start studying. Get my drift? Bob: Sure, Pop. Whatever you say. Mary: Get out of my way and stop following me around. Do you get my drift? John: I guess so.
drift along
to float along; to be carried along on no particular course. The boat just drifted along lazily with the current. The project drifted along until we received the leadership we needed.
drift apart
(from each other ) 1. . Lit. [for floating things] to separate as they drift. The boats drifted apart from one another. The boats drifted apart in the waves.
2. Fig. [for people] to lead their lives without contact with each other having been together or friendly. He drifted apart from his friends. As the years went by, they drifted apart.
drift away
(from someone )
Fig. [for someone] to begin to be less of a friend and more like a stranger. (See also
drift away (from someone or something).)
He began drifting away from me a few months ago, andlhaven'tseenhim at all in the last three weeks.drift away
(from someone or something ) [for floating people, animals, or things] to move away from a particular person or thing, on the surface of water. (See also .) We watched the boat drift away from us. He was drifting away on the ice block and there was nothing we could do.
drift back (to someone or something)
to move back to someone or something slowly, on the surface of water. The canoe drifted back to shore. My little boat finally drifted back to me.
drift back (to someone or something)
to move back to someone or something slowly, on the surface of water. The canoe drifted back to shore. My little boat finally drifted back to me.
drift in
(to something) to move slowly and gradually into something. The people drifted slowly into the hall. The boats drifted into the shore on the tide.
drift off
to move slowly away. The boat slowly drifted off and was gone. The clouds drifted off and the sun came out.
drift off to sleep
Fig. to fall asleep gradually. At last, he drifted off to sleep. During that boring lecture, I drifted off to sleep a number of times.
drift out
to move out of a place slowly. After there was no more food, the people drifted out, one by one. The boat drifted out and almost got away.
drift toward someone or something
to move slowly and gradually toward someone or something. The clouds drifted toward us, and we could see that a storm was coming. As the clouds drifted toward us, we could feel the humidity increase.
drift with something
1. . Lit. to float along with something; to be carried along at the same rate as something. He paddled the canoe into the center of the stream and let it drift with the current.
2. Fig. to "move along" passively with events and ideas. He is not very decisive and is as likely as not to drift with the tide of sentiment.
get someone's drift
Fig. to understand what someone is saying or implying. (Akin to if you get my drift.) I don't want to hear anymore about her or you. Do you get my drift?
get the drift of something
Fig. to understand the general idea of something. I knew enough German to get the drift of this article. I don't get the drift of what you're trying to tell me.
if you get my drift
Fig. if you understand what I am saying or implying. (Akin to get someone's drift.) I've heard enough talk and seen enough inaction—if you get my drift.
*off course
1. Lit. not going in the right direction. (*Typically: be ~; drift ~; get ~.) The ship is off course and may strike the reef!
2. Fig. not following the plan correctly. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) The project is off course and won't be finished on time. l am off course and doing poorly.