Idiom · B2 · Informal · common in conversation
get the hang of
Learn how to do or use something that initially seems difficult or unfamiliar.
ući u štos; pohvatati kako nešto funkcioniše; ovladati osnovama
Memory scene
At first the controls feel slippery; then your hands suddenly find the right grip—the hang of it.
How it sounds
get thuh HANG uhv
Stress hang; of is reduced in natural speech.
Build the sentence
get / be getting + the hang of + noun, pronoun, or -ing
Use it
After two practice runs, I began to get the hang of the new booking system.
The skill develops gradually through use.
Keep the speed low until you get the hang of steering on ice.
An -ing form naturally follows of when an action is named.
Watch out
Of is a preposition here, so use a noun or -ing form: the hang of driving, not the hang of drive. The phrase means practical familiarity, not complete mastery.
Nearby language
Similar, but often means learning the procedures of a job or organization.
Means become accustomed to something, which does not necessarily include learning a skill.
Much stronger: become highly skilled, not merely comfortable with the basics.
Make it yours
Novi program vam je prvo bio zbunjujući, ali posle nekoliko pokušaja već razumete osnovni postupak.