+++Alex (good instincts!)

“When I get down to something” isn’t something we say in this context: https://www.google.com/search?ei=MryfXOiTJYHmtQWDpbqoDg&q=%22when+I+get+down+to+something%22&oq=%22when+I+get+down+to+something%22&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i22i30.541958.547789..548084...4.0..1.262.4232.5j27j2......0....1..gws-wiz.....6..0i71j0i131j0j0i19j0i10i19j0i30i19j0i10i30i19j0i5i10i30i19j35i39j0i67j0i203j33i22i29i30.kbpy35A2iBc

Get down to work?

“get down to work/business/the matter at hand” is an idiom that means to skip formalities and begin working. In this post, I believe the meaning is that when you focus on a task, you put everything into it. That idiom doesn’t work here.

Got it, thanks. In meetings, I heard something like “Well, let’s get down to real work.”

Exactly. Let’s stop the chitchat and start the actual meeting.

https://books.google.ru/books?id=I0FODwAAQBAJ&pg=PA555&dq=%22get+down+to+something%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj42cGLyqrhAhVl5KYKHd7eAhsQ6AEIPzAE#v=onepage&q=%22get%20down%20to%20something%22&f=false

A dictionary can use SOMETHING like this because it’s presenting a pattern. But an individual in the real world wouldn’t say “When I get down to something” he would say “LET’S get down to business/work/the matter at hand” but “When I take something on/set my mind to doing something/set about doing something, etc.”

that's even less natural: https://www.google.com/search?ei=V76fXMi9LcXGsQXYyrHYCg&q=%22when+I+get+down+to+some+matter%22&oq=%22when+I+get+down+to+some+matter%22&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i299l3.1057897.1059142..1059740...0.0..0.146.1158.7j4......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i8i7i30.3aaUUeKH9l4

...or get down to DOING something, but not get down TO SOMETHING

We don’t say “when I get down to doing something” either - not in this context.

If I understood the Russian correctly, it means that when the speaker goes about doing something in earnest, no?

DOING is also a pattern: “It’s time you got looking for a job.”

...and what is “in earnest”?

It's not necessarily in earnest. At least, it's not clear as there is no context. Браться можно за чтение книги, мытье посуды и т. д.

Yes, but that’s a different context. In that context, GET LOOKING implies that the person is lazy or unambitious. In this post, the meaning is one of seriously setting about doing something with no nuance of laziness or lack of ambition.

in earnest means по-настоящему, всерьез, без дураков, и т.д.

Here, the speaker specifically says “за какое-то дело,” which means that the next sentiment is probably “I don’t fool around” or “I take it very seriously” or something along those lines. So the insinuation is that “when he starts/decides/sets about doing something in earnest, (he takes it very seriously).”

Yes, БРАТЬСЯ за дело implies seriously.

= in earnest)))

All the translations I posted express this - as does “get my teeth into” 👍🏼

Я НАЧАЛ мыть посуду - мне лень, но приходится это делать.
Я ВЗЯЛСЯ мыть посуду - я должен это сделать по-настоящему, качественно, то есть делать это серьёзно, ответственно.

Exactly! 👍🏼

Consequently, your first translation “When I start...” doesn’t really work here either. It doesn’t imply “in earnest”

я думаю, "взяться за" означает и "начать что-то делать"

Agree: start doing sth doesn’t mean in earnest. I removed it. “When I get my teeth into dishwashing, a couple of teeth get lost, and 3 or 4 plates get broken.”

hahahahahahaha

You won’t be washing dishes at my house anytime soon!

Yes, no hope to fly over there again.
By the way, another related idiom:
Я взялся за дело = I got down to business = I rolled up my sleeves.

roll up your sleeves 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

если я берусь за какое-то дело,то должна быть в нем первой (лидером)

Anytime I take something on, I have to be at the helm.

i have to be звучит как будто мне кто-то сказал ,что я должна.а на деле я сама этого хочу значит must

Мне придётся - почему это КТО-ТО сказал или принудил?
«Чтобы победить мне придётся усиленно тренироваться». Это просто условие для того, чтобы победить.

Amelia, HAVE TO is used instead of MUST in modern English in the sense of obligation. It does NOT imply that someone told to do something - it can refer to a personal obligation. MUST is used in the sense that you definitely need to do something like watch a movie, or try a new restaurant: “You MUST see this movie - you’ll love it!”

https://www.homeenglish.ru/must_have_to.htm

I don’t need a lesson - English is my first language)))

Whatever. This is my last day on this site anyway. Enjoy!

why did it hurt you??i meant nothing bad

we all appreciate your translations!why do you need to leave the app

we all appreciate your translations!why do you need to leave the app

we all appreciate your translations!why do you need to leave the app

we all appreciate your translations!why do you need to leave the app

we all appreciate your translations!why do you need to leave the app

we all appreciate your translations!why do you need to leave the app

S Ameliya,
It's not an easy thing for a native speaker, professional linguist, and translator to stand constant arguing from people who only learned some English out of Soviet textbooks and dictionaries. Uly came here to improve his Russian and help English learners improve their English.
Instead, the one and only native speaker here on Lingvo who knows all ins and outs of the English language has every day to respond to comments, just to get across the correct and live language to those who are ready to learn... and not only teach.