diff --git a/narwhals/_arrow/expr.py b/narwhals/_arrow/expr.py
index 0098064451..8fc165d340 100644
--- a/narwhals/_arrow/expr.py
+++ b/narwhals/_arrow/expr.py
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ def func(df: ArrowDataFrame) -> Sequence[ArrowSeries]:
                 # TODO(marco): is there a way to do this efficiently without
                 # doing 2 sorts? Here we're sorting the dataframe and then
                 # again calling `sort_indices`. `ArrowSeries.scatter` would also sort.
-                sorting_indices = pc.sort_indices(df[token].native)  # type: ignore[call-overload]
+                sorting_indices = pc.sort_indices(df.get_column(token).native)  # type: ignore[call-overload]
                 return [s._with_native(s.native.take(sorting_indices)) for s in result]
         else:
 
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ def func(df: ArrowDataFrame) -> Sequence[ArrowSeries]:
                     right_on=partition_by,
                     suffix="_right",
                 )
-                return [tmp[alias] for alias in aliases]
+                return [tmp.get_column(alias) for alias in aliases]
 
         return self.__class__(
             func,
diff --git a/narwhals/_arrow/series.py b/narwhals/_arrow/series.py
index aa9931c901..efeb851e95 100644
--- a/narwhals/_arrow/series.py
+++ b/narwhals/_arrow/series.py
@@ -854,7 +854,7 @@ def mode(self: Self) -> ArrowSeries:
         return counts.filter(
             plx.col(col_token)
             == plx.col(col_token).max().broadcast(kind=ExprKind.AGGREGATION)
-        )[self.name]
+        ).get_column(self.name)
 
     def is_finite(self: Self) -> Self:
         return self._with_native(pc.is_finite(self.native))
diff --git a/narwhals/_pandas_like/dataframe.py b/narwhals/_pandas_like/dataframe.py
index 4d4493e2bb..752b047f33 100644
--- a/narwhals/_pandas_like/dataframe.py
+++ b/narwhals/_pandas_like/dataframe.py
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ def to_numpy(self: Self, dtype: Any = None, *, copy: bool | None = None) -> _2DA
 
                 arr: Any = np.hstack(
                     [
-                        self[col].to_numpy(copy=copy, dtype=None)[:, None]
+                        self.get_column(col).to_numpy(copy=copy, dtype=None)[:, None]
                         for col in self.columns
                     ]
                 )
diff --git a/narwhals/_pandas_like/expr.py b/narwhals/_pandas_like/expr.py
index a812a38653..ae6197a5cd 100644
--- a/narwhals/_pandas_like/expr.py
+++ b/narwhals/_pandas_like/expr.py
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ def func(df: PandasLikeDataFrame) -> Sequence[PandasLikeSeries]:
                     *order_by, descending=False, nulls_last=False
                 )
                 results = self(df.drop([token], strict=True))
-                sorting_indices = df[token]
+                sorting_indices = df.get_column(token)
                 for s in results:
                     s._scatter_in_place(sorting_indices, s)
                 return results
@@ -257,14 +257,14 @@ def func(df: PandasLikeDataFrame) -> Sequence[PandasLikeSeries]:
                     columns = list(set(partition_by).union(output_names).union(order_by))
                     token = generate_temporary_column_name(8, columns)
                     df = (
-                        df[columns]
+                        df.simple_select(*columns)
                         .with_row_index(token)
                         .sort(*order_by, descending=reverse, nulls_last=reverse)
                     )
-                    sorting_indices = df[token]
+                    sorting_indices = df.get_column(token)
                 elif reverse:
                     columns = list(set(partition_by).union(output_names))
-                    df = df[columns][::-1]
+                    df = df.simple_select(*columns)[::-1]
                 grouped = df._native_frame.groupby(partition_by)
                 if function_name.startswith("rolling"):
                     rolling = grouped[list(output_names)].rolling(**pandas_kwargs)
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ def func(df: PandasLikeDataFrame) -> Sequence[PandasLikeSeries]:
                 result_frame = df._with_native(res_native).rename(
                     dict(zip(output_names, aliases))
                 )
-                results = [result_frame[name] for name in aliases]
+                results = [result_frame.get_column(name) for name in aliases]
                 if order_by:
                     for s in results:
                         s._scatter_in_place(sorting_indices, s)