get the memo

present singular third person gets the memo · participle present getting the memo · past got the memo · UK participle past got the memo · US participle past gotten the memo

1. literallyTo receive an item of information.

   Apart from that, it was England’s attack against Latvia’s massed defence. Marcus Rashford had got the memo to take on his man; he was positive, although the end product consistently eluded him.

   2025 March 24, David Hytner, “Reece James bends it like Beckham to help England break down Latvia”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 16 Apr 2025

2. idiomaticinformalTo be aware of the current state of affairs.

   Well it's a bit late now, to suddenly start caring about that. I guess you didn't get the memo?

   3 more examples

   They've gotten it into their head that there's a mystical secret to academic success, and they just didn't get the memo.

   2010, Ana Homayoun, That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week, Penguin, →ISBN

   My alarm clock didn't get the memo about the day off. Iggy's must have because I can hear him snoring through his bedroom door.

   2014, Tawni Waters, Beauty of the Broken, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN

   It seems even Kris Jenner has got the pink memo. The momager followed up Kim's post with her own, sharing a throwback pic of herself in a neon pink '80s swimsuit.

   2023 June 14, Alexandria Dale, “Kim Kardashian relaxes poolside in a bright pink thong bikini”, in Women's Health, archived from the original on 06 Jul 2025

3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see get, memo.