Hi there,

Yes, it means looking for the main idea or the most important point in a written text. Or spoken for that matter. When we gist we don`t pay attention to the details.

I hope it helped.

The general meaning of something. To "get the gist" means to understand something, but not to be expert in it.
Kesenia: Did you read Moby Dick last night?

Monika: Nah, I read spark notes, got the gist