go [1]
vb , goes, going, went, gone mainly intr
1 to move or proceed, esp. to or from a point or in a certain direction
to go to London, to go home
2 tr; takes an infinitive, often with to omitted or replaced by: and to proceed towards a particular person or place with some specified intention or purpose
I must go and get that book
3 to depart
we'll have to go at eleven
4 to start, as in a race: often used in commands
5 to make regular journeys
this train service goes to the east coast
6 to operate or function effectively
the radio won't go
7 copula to become
his face went red with embarrassment
8 to make a noise as specified
the gun went bang
9 to enter into a specified state or condition
to go into hysterics, to go into action
10 to be or continue to be in a specified state or condition
to go in rags, to go in poverty
11 to lead, extend, or afford access
this route goes to the north
12 to proceed towards an activity
to go to supper, to go to sleep
13 tr; takes an infinitive to serve or contribute
this letter goes to prove my point
14 to follow a course as specified; fare
the lecture went badly
15 to be applied or allotted to a particular purpose or recipient
her wealth went to her son, his money went on drink
16 to be sold or otherwise transferred to a recipient
the necklace went for three thousand pounds
17 to be ranked; compare
this meal is good as my meals go
18 to blend or harmonize
these chairs won't go with the rest of your furniture
19 foll by: by or under to be known (by a name or disguise)
20 to fit or extend
that skirt won't go round your waist
21 to have a usual or proper place
those books go on this shelf
22 (of music, poetry, etc.) to be sounded; expressed, etc.
how does that song go?
23 to fail or give way
my eyesight is going
24 to break down or collapse abruptly
the ladder went at the critical moment
25 to die
the old man went at 2 a.m
a (of time) to elapse
the hours go by so slowly at the office
b to travel past
the train goes by her house at four
27 to occur
happiness does not always go with riches
28 to be eliminated, abolished, or given up
this entry must go to save space
29 to be spent or finished
all his money has gone
30 to circulate or be transmitted
the infection went around the whole community
31 to attend
go to school, go to church
32 to join a stated profession
go to the bar, go on the stage
33 foll by: to to have recourse (to); turn
to go to arbitration
34 foll by: to to subject or put oneself (to)
she goes to great pains to please him
35 to proceed, esp. up to or beyond certain limits
you will go too far one day and then you will be punished
36 to be acceptable or tolerated
anything goes in this place
37 to carry the weight of final authority
what the boss says goes
38 foll by: into to be contained in
four goes into twelve three times
39 often foll by: for to endure or last out
we can't go for much longer without water in this heat
40 tr (Cards) to bet or bid
I go two hearts
41 tr
Informal (chiefly U.S.) to have as one's weight
I went 112 pounds a year ago
42 (U.S. and Canadian) usually used in commands; takes an infinitive without: to
a to start to act so as to
go shut the door
b to leave so as to
go blow your brains out
43 Informal to perform well; be successful
that group can really go
44 tr
Not standard to say: widely used, esp. in the historic present, in reporting dialogue
Then she goes, ``Give it to me!'' and she just snatched it
45 ♦
go and
Informal to be so foolish or unlucky as to
then she had to go and lose her hat
46 ♦
be going to intend or be about to start (to do or be doing something): often used as an alternative future construction
what's going to happen to us?
47 ♦
go ape
Slang to become crazy, enraged, or out of control
48 ♦
go ape over
Slang to become crazy or extremely enthusiastic about
49 ♦
go astray to be mislaid; go missing
50 ♦
go bail to act as surety
51 ♦
go bush See →
bush →
13
52 ♦
go halves See →
half →
15
53 ♦
go hard often foll by: with to cause trouble or unhappiness (to)
54 ♦
go it
Slang to do something or move energetically
55 ♦
go it alone
Informal to act or proceed without allies or help
56 ♦
go much on
Informal to approve of or be in agreement with (something): usually used in the negative
I don't go much on the idea
57 ♦
go one better
Informal to surpass or outdo (someone)
58 ♦
go the whole hog
Informal See →
hog →
9
a to relax one's hold (on); release
b Euphemistic to dismiss (from employment)
c to discuss or consider no further
a to act in an uninhibited manner
b to lose interest in one's appearance, manners, etc.
b (U.S. and Canadian)
informal (of food served by a restaurant) for taking away
n pl , goes
a an attempt or try
he had a go at the stamp business
b an attempt at stopping a person suspected of a crime
the police are not always in favour of the public having a go
c an attack, esp. verbal
she had a real go at them
64 a turn
it's my go next
65 Informal the quality of being active and energetic
she has much more go than I
66 Informal hard or energetic work
it's all go
67 Informal a successful venture or achievement
he made a go of it
68 Informal a bout or attack (of an illness)
he had a bad go of flu last winter
69 Informal an unforeseen, usually embarrassing or awkward, turn of events
here's a rum go
70 Informal a bargain or agreement
71 ♦
all the go
Informal very popular; in fashion
72 ♦
from the word go
Informal from the very beginning
74 ♦
no go
Informal impossible; abortive or futile
it's no go, I'm afraid
75 ♦
on the go
Informal active and energetic
adj
76 postpositive
Informal functioning properly and ready for action: esp. used in astronautics
all systems are go (See also)
→
go about →
go against →
go ahead →
go along →
go around →
go at →
go away →
go back →
go by →
go down →
go for →
go forth →
go in →
going →
go into →
gone →
go off →
go on →
go out →
go over →
go through →
go to →
go together →
go under →
go up →
go with →
go without
(Old English gan; related to Old High German gen, Greek kikhanein to reach, Sanskrit jahati he forsakes)