1chiefly British an attempt or trial at something:have a go at answering the questions yourself
2British a person’s turn to use or do something:I had a go on Nigel’s racing bikecome on Tony, it’s your go
used in reference to a single item, action, or spell of activity:he drank a pint in one go
3 [mass noun]British spirit, animation, or energy:there’s no go in me at all these days
vigorous activity:it’s all go around here
4 dated a state of affairs:this seems a rum sort of go
an attack of illness:he’s had this nasty go of dysentery
5North American an enterprise which has been approved:tell them the project is a go
ზმნა
Universal
1 [no object, usually with adverbial of direction] move from one place to another; travel:he went out to the shopsshe longs to go back homewe’ve a long way to go
travel a specified distance:you just have to go a few miles to get to the road
travel or move in order to engage in a specified activity:let’s go and have a pint [with infinitive]:we went to see her [with present participle]:she used to go hunting
(go to) attend or visit for a particular purpose:we went to the cinemahe went to Cambridge University
(of a thing) lie or extend in a certain direction:the scar went all the way up her leg
change in level, amount, or rank:prices went up by 15 per cent
[in imperative] begin motion (used in a starter’s order to begin a race):ready, steady, go!
informal said in various expressions when angrily or contemptuously dismissing someone:go and get stuffed
2 [no object] leave; depart:I really must go
(of time) pass or elapse:the hours went bythree years went past
pass a specified amount of time in a particular way:they went for two weeks without talking
come to an end; cease to exist:a golden age that has now gone for good11,500 jobs are due to go by next year
cease operating or functioning:the power went in our road last week
die (used euphemistically):I’d like to see my grandchildren before I go
be lost or stolen:when he returned minutes later his equipment had gone
(go to) be sold or awarded to:the top prize went to a twenty-four-year-old sculptor
(of money) be spent, especially in a specified way:the rest of his money went on medical expenses
3 (be going to be/do something) intend or be likely or intended to be or do something (used to express a future tense):I’m going to be late for workshe’s going to have a baby
4 [no object, with complement] pass into or be in a specified state, especially an undesirable one:the food is going badno one went hungry in our househe’s gone crazy
(go to/into) enter into a specified state or course of action:she went back to sleepthe car went into a spin
make a sound of a specified kind:the engine went bang
5 [no object] proceed or turn out in a specified way:how did the weekend go?at first all went well
be acceptable or permitted:underground events where anything goes
6 [no object] be harmonious, complementary, or matching:rosemary goes with roast lambthe earrings and the scarf don’t really go
be found in the same place or situation; be associated:cooking and eating go together
7 [no object] (of a machine or device) function:my car won’t go
continue in operation or existence:the committee was kept going even when its existence could no longer be justified
8 [no object] (go into/to/towards) contribute to or be put into (a whole):considerable effort went into making the operation successful
used to indicate how many people a supply of a resource is sufficient for or how much can be achieved using it:the sale will go a long way towards easing the huge debt burdena little luck can go a long way
9 [no object] (of an article) be regularly kept or put in a particular place:remember which card goes in which slot
fit into a particular place or space:you’re trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot, and it just won’t go
10 [no object] (of a song or account) have a specified content or wording:if you haven’t heard it, the story goes like this
(go by/under) be known or called by (a specified name):he now goes under the name Charles Perez
[with direct speech] informal say:the kids go, ‘Yeah, sure.’
11 [no object] informal use a toilet; urinate or defecate:he had to go but couldn’t, because she was still in the bathroom
12 [no object] informal used to emphasize the speaker’s annoyance at someone’s action:then he goes and spoils it all [with present participle]:don’t go poking your nose where you shouldn’t
all the go
British informal, dated in fashion.
as (or so) far as it goes
bearing in mind its limitations (said when qualifying praise of something):the book is a useful catalogue as far as it goes
as —— go
compared to the average or typical one of the specified kind:as castles go it is small and old
from the word go
informal from the very beginning.
get going
1leave a place in order to go somewhere else:it’s been wonderful seeing you again, but I think it’s time we got going
2start happening or taking place:the campaign got going in 1983
get someone going
British informal make someone angry or sexually aroused:I want a girl who’s sexy, but in a subtle way—that’s what gets me going
get something going
succeed in starting a machine, vehicle, process, etc.:we got the car going again after much trying
go figure!
North American informal said to express the belief that something is amazing or incredible:there’ll even (go figure) be an Elvis impersonator
go halves (or shares)
share something equally:she’d promised to go halves with him if he got anywhere in the negotiations
going!, gone!
an auctioneer’s announcement that bidding is closing or closed.
go off on one
British informal become very angry or excited:Jim just went off on one, ranting and raving like a madman, telling me he could do what he wanted
going on —— (British also going on for ——)
approaching a specified time, age, or amount:I was going on fourteen when I went to my first gig
go (to) it
British informal act in an energetic or dissipated way:Go it, Dad! Give him what for!
go to show (or prove)
(of an occurrence) serve as evidence or proof of something:the whole mess goes to show that faith in the chairman is no substitute for studying the balance sheet
go well
South African used to express good wishes to someone leaving.
have a go at
chiefly British attack or criticize (someone):she’s always having a go at me
have —— going for one
informal used to indicate how much someone has in their favour or to their advantage:Why did she do it? She had so much going for her
make a go of
informal be successful in (something):he’s determined to make a go of his marriage
on the go
informal very active or busy:he’s dead beat, he’s been on the go all evening
to be going on with
British to start with; for the time being:this is not a full critical appraisal but it will do to be going on with
to go
North American (of food or drink from a restaurant or cafe) to be eaten or drunk off the premises:one large cheese-and-peppers pizza, to go
what goes around comes around
proverb the consequences of one’s actions will have to be dealt with eventually.
who goes there?
said by a sentry as a challenge.
go about
1begin or carry on with (an activity):you are going about this in the wrong way
2 Sailing change to an opposite tack.
go against
oppose or resist:he refused to go against the unions
be contrary to (a feeling or principle):these tactics go against many of our instincts
(of a decision or result) be unfavourable for:the tribunal’s decision went against them
go ahead
proceed or be carried out:the project will go ahead
go along with
consent or agree to (a person or proposal):he will probably go along with the idea