get a guernsey

Primarily heard in Australia.

1. To be selected for something, often a sports team. A "guernsey" is a type of shirt commonly worn by soccer (football) players in Australia. I can't believe I got a guernsey after playing so poorly during tryouts. When do we find out who got a guernsey for the football team? He always gets a guernsey when we play games because he's the best at everything!

2. By extension, to be appreciated, praised, or acknowledged for something. Once everyone sees your brilliant article in today's paper, I think your writing will finally get a guernsey. She thinks she should get a guernsey just for entering the contest. I doubt she even has a submission prepared! It would be nice to finally get a guernsey for all the work I do around here!

See also: get

get a guernsey

AUSTRALIAN, INFORMAL

1. If you get a guernsey, you are chosen for something, especially a sports team. Surprisingly, Barry did not get a guernsey in the all-star seven.

2. If someone or something gets a guernsey, they get public recognition for an achievement or a quality. It became the longest bar in the world, and even got a guernsey in The Guinness Book of Records.

See also: get

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

get a guernsey

1 be selected for a football team. 2 gain recognition or approbation. Australian informal

A guernsey is a type of knitted shirt or sweater; in Australia the word is specifically applied to a football shirt.

See also: get

get a ˈguernsey

(AustralE, informal) be recognized as being good; be chosen for something: I am afraid that our achievement failed to get a guernsey in the local press.A guernsey is a kind of shirt worn by a player of Australian Rules Football. If you are given or get a guernsey, you are chosen to play for the team.

See also: get

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