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Could someone please tell me the difference between "get down here" and "come down here"? Is "get down here" even natural or is it bad English?

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    Get down here is what you might say to an naughty child who has defied you by climbing a tree. Come down here is what you might say to a friend whom you wish to show something special. The first is an instruction; the second an invitation - depending on your tone of voice.
    – Ronald Sole
    Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 15:52
  • I agree with Ronald Sole. But if they are used in a different context, like "When can you get down here?" and "When can you come down here?", they are almost identical. "Get down here" may sound slightly American to the most refined of English ears.
    – Old Brixtonian
    Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 16:03

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“Come over here” is just slightly on the “polite” side, while “get over here” is just slightly on the “rude” side.

The difference between them is not very large, and you could probably make “get over here” sound somewhat polite by saying “please” and using a gentle tone of voice. Likewise, you could also say “come over here” in a very harsh tone of voice.

But if you say them both using exactly the same phrasing and tone, “come over here” sounds more like a request, while “get over here” sounds like a demand.

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“Get” has a wide field of meaning.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get

Notice meaning 5. When addressing an individual, there is very little difference between “cause to come down” and “come down.” The only difference is that the first stresses the aspect of will and the second stresses the result.

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    This is entirely wrong. This is not an example of MW's meaning 5 for transitive get, but meaning 1 for intransitive get. Furthermore, in the imperative, this gt is brusque or rude. Come down is neutral_. Get down (in the imperative) is peremptory.
    – Colin Fine
    Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 17:32
  • Well, you are entirely wrong. Old Brixtonian pointed out that your example is true in a specific context, but is not generally true. “Get here as soon as you can; I can’t wait to see you” is not rude or offensive.
    – Jeff Morrow
    Commented Aug 26, 2021 at 23:24

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