I get the gist
To get the gist of something means that you understand the essence of what the person is saying. That means you understand the main points they are saying. The gist is not concerned with the details.
Example: I have heard your argument. I don’t understand all of your points, but I get the gist.
The first thing to note about this phrase is the pronunciation. The ‘g’ is pronounced like a ‘j’. As a matter of fact, spelling it ‘jist’ is a common error. Gist comes from the French word, gésir , which came from latin, jacēre. Gésir means to lie down. A lot of the resources online do not make it clear that this is lying down in a prone position (and not the opposite of truth).
Gist also had a second, legal definition. In the 18th century, gist referred to the grounds (reasons) for a legal action. It came to English through the Anglo-French legal phrase, “c’est action gist”, meaning “this action lies”. The legalese meaning of gist has been around since 1711.
While I can’t find evidence that there is a direct link between the two uses of gist, I think the legalese may have influenced the common understanding. The definition of gist that means, “the main points” appears over a century later, first recorded in 1823. I think that legalese meaning of gist asks the person to disregard all of the extra evidence and just summarize the main points for prosecuting the person. I can see how this would easily move to the more common understanding of gist, “the main points.” Do you agree?
I think that differentiating the two definitions can be hard to keep track of, but I hope you get the gist of what I am saying.
For more English phrases and quotes, follow me on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ESL-ToyBox-112152010890485
Reference:
https://oneminuteenglish.org/en/get-the-gist-or-jist/
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/g%C3%A9sir#French
https://www.etymonline.com/word/gist
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/gist
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gist
https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/gist