The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  go on and on 1. See GO ON, def. 5. 2. Continue without stopping, last for a long time, as in This trail goes on and on, or The movie went on and on. This usage was first recorded in 1938.

  go one better Outdo or surpass someone, as in He went one better than his teacher and came up with five more famous scientists. This expression originated in gambling games, where it meant “to offer a higher stake than one’s opponent.” [Mid-1800s]

  go one’s way Also, go one’s own way. 1. Do what one pleases, especially differing from what others are doing, as in You go your way and I’ll go mine, or He always insisted on going his own way. This expression, dating from about 1400, originally alluded to moving on in a particular direction. It can still do so, as in The delivery truck went on its way. By the late 1500s it was also being used figuratively. 2. Proceed according to one’s plans or wishes, as in Let’s hope things will go my way this time. Applied to both events and people’s actions, this thought is often expressed as everything’s going one’s way or going my way. For example, With her husband in charge, everything’s going her way, or I trust you’ll be going my way when we vote on this issue.

  go on record Embrace a position publicly. For example, I want to go on record in favor of the mayor’s reelection. It is also put as for the record, as in For the record, we support sending troops there. The record in both signifies either publication or public knowledge. Both expressions date from the first half of the 1900s, although slightly different phrases, such as put on record, are older. Also see JUST FOR THE RECORD; OFF THE RECORD.

  goose → In addition to the idioms beginning with GOOSE, also see COOK SOMEONE’S GOOSE; GONE COON (GOOSE); KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGGS; SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE IS SAUCE FOR THE GANDER; WILD GOOSE CHASE.

  goose egg Zero, nothing, especially a score of zero. For example, Our team did badly, earning a goose egg, or My income from writing this year was a goose egg. This expression is an Americanization of the earlier British duck’s egg. [Mid-1800s]

  goose pimples Also, goose bumps or flesh. Temporary rough skin caused by small raised bumps. For example, Horror movies always give me goose pimples, or She tends to get goose bumps whenever she goes to the dentist. This expression likens the skin of a plucked goose to the condition of human skin when a person is cold or afraid. [Early 1800s]

  go out 1. Be extinguished, as in All the lights went out. [c. 1400] 2. Die; also, faint. For example, I want to go out before I become senile, or At the sight of blood he went out like a light. The first usage dates from about 1700 and was at first put go out of the world. For the variant, see under OUT COLD. 3. Take part in social life outside the home, as in We go out a lot during the holiday season. This usage dates from the second half of the 1700s and gave rise to go out with someone, meaning “to date someone.” 4. Stop working, as in To show their support of the auto workers, the steel workers went out too. This expression is short for go out on strike. [Late 1800s] 5. Become unfashionable, as in Bell-bottom pants went out in the 1970s but made a comeback in the 1990s. This usage is sometimes amplified to go out of fashion or go out of style, as in This kind of film has gone out of fashion, or These boots are going out of style. [Late 1400s] 6. Cease to function as before. This sense appears in go out of print, said of a book that will no longer be printed. Also see the subsequent idioms beginning with GO OUT.

  go out for Seek to become a participant in, as in I’m going out for soccer. [First half of 1900s] Also see GO FOR, def. 3; GO IN FOR, def. 2.

  go out of fashion Also, go out of style. → See under GO OUT, def. 5.

  go out of one’s mind Lose one’s mental stability, become insane, as in After he heard that the ore he had mined was worthless, the prospector went out of his mind. This phrase is often used as a humorous exaggeration, as in I’m going out of my mind reading these proofs. The phrase out of one’s mind dates from the late 1300s, and was used with go shortly thereafter. A colloquial synonym is out of one’s gourd, which since 1844 meant out of one’s head but has only meant “crazy” since the second half of the 1900s.Also see LOSE ONE’S MIND.

  go out of one’s way Inconvenience oneself or take extra trouble to do something beyond what is required. For example, He went out of his way to introduce me to everyone there, or She went out of her way to be kind. This usage alludes to deviating from one’s intended path or normal procedures. [Mid-1700s]

  go out the window → See OUT THE WINDOW.

  go out with → See GO OUT, def. 3; GO WITH, def. 1.

  go over 1. Examine, review. For example, They went over the contract with great care, or I think we should go over the whole business again. This term originated in the late 1500s, then meaning “consider in sequence.” 2. Gain acceptance or approval, succeed, as in I hope the play goes over. This term is sometimes elaborated to go over big or go over with a bang for a big success, and go over like a lead balloon for a dismal failure. [Early 1900s] 3. Rehearse, as in Let’s go over these lines one more time. [Second half of 1700s]

  go overboard Show excessive enthusiasm, act in an excessive way. For example, It’s easy to go overboard with a new stock offering, or She really went overboard, hiring the most expensive caterer. [Mid-1900s]

  go over someone’s head → See OVER ONE’S HEAD.

  go places Make progress, succeed, as in I suspect they’ll be going places with the new product, or Now that she has her doctorate I’m sure she’ll go places. [Colloquial; early 1900s]

  go postal Go berserk; behave in a violent manner. The term alludes to a number of actual incidents in the United States in the 1990s where a postal employee started shooting at colleagues. It was soon transferred to other unexpected outbursts of rage, presumably caused by stress. [Slang, late 1900s]

  go public 1. Become a publicly held company, that is, issue ownership shares in the form of stock. For example, As soon as the company grows a little bigger and begins to show a profit, we intend to go public. [Mid-1900s] 2. Make something known to the public, as in Harry went public with his annual income. [1970s]

  go right Succeed, happen correctly, as in If everything goes right, we should be in Canada by Tuesday, or Nothing has gone right for me today. This idiom uses right in the sense of “in a satisfactory state,” a usage dating from the mid-1600s.

  go right through one → See under GO THROUGH ONE.

  gory details A disagreeable or sickening description. The adjective “gory” alludes to the noun gore and came to mean bloodshed. Although technically the present idiom means “bloody details,” it was transferred to the particulars of practically anything. Thus, while it might appear in a murder mystery, as in I’m a homicide detective but as for the autopsy, spare me the gory details, it is also used ironically for other circumstances, as in When Ron talked on and on about his job interviews, I told him to spare me the gory details.[Second half of 1800s]

  go so far as to Also, go as far as to. Proceed to the point of doing something. For example, I wouldn’t go so far as to call him incompetent, but he does need supervision, or Would she go as far as to sell the house before she’s found another?

  go south Deteriorate or decline, as in The stock market is headed south again. This expression is generally thought to allude to compasses and two-dimensional maps where north is up and south is down. However, among some Native Americans, the term was a euphemism for dying, and possibly this sense led to the present usage. [Slang; first half of 1900s] Also see GO WEST.

  gospel truth Something that is unquestionably true. For example, Every word he uttered was the gospel truth. The word gospel, which comes from the Old English god spel, “good news,” has been used to describe something that is thought to be as true as the biblical gospel (that is, undeniably true) since the 13th century. The current idiom originated in the 1600s, when it referred to biblical truths, and has been applied to truth of a more general nature since the late 1800s. Also see TAKE AS GOSPEL.

  go stag Go unaccompanied by a person of the opposite sex to a social event, as in John
decided to go stag to his roommate’s party, or Some of the girls are going stag to the dance. Although this term originally applied only to men attending an event without a woman companion, it is now applied to women as well. [c. 1900]

  go steady Date one person exclusively, as in Parents often don’t approve of their children’s decision to go steady. This usage may be obsolescent. [Slang; c. 1900] Also see GO TOGETHER, def. 2; GO WITH, def. 1.

  go straight Become a law-abiding person; abandon crime. For example, Once he got out on probation, he swore he would go straight. The use of straight in the sense of “honest” dates from the 1500s and probably alludes to the opposite of crooked, used in the sense of “dishonest” from the 13th century on.

  got a thing going → See HAVE A THING GOING.

  go the distance Carry through a course of action to completion. For example, He said he’s willing to go the distance with this project. This expression originated in boxing, where it means “to last for all the rounds that have been scheduled.” In baseball the same term means “to pitch an entire game.” For a synonym, see ALL THE WAY, def. 1.

  go the extra mile Put in more time and effort than is actually needed. This idiom, in slightly different form, appeared in the Bible’s Book of Matthew (5:41): “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twaine [twice as much].” The current meaning and wording first were recorded in 1907. For example, Betty would always go the extra mile to satisfy a customer.

  go the limit → See GO WHOLE HOG.

  go the way of all flesh Die, as in Our dog’s gone the way of all flesh and I’m not sure we’ll get another. This expression is actually a misquotation from the Bible, which has it to go the way of all the earth (I Kings 2:2; Joshua 22:14), also meaning “to die.”

  go through 1. Examine carefully, as in I went through all the students’ papers. [Mid-1600s] 2. Experience, undergo, suffer, as in We went through hell trying to find an answer. [Early 1700s] 3. Perform; also, rehearse for performance. For example, I went through the sonata in ten minutes, or Let’s go through the third act again. [Mid-1700s] 4. Use up, complete, as in The children went through all the milk we bought in one day. [Mid-1900s] 5. Succeed, be approved, as in I’m sure this new deal will go through. [Late 1800s] 6. go through with. Complete, carry out, as in They got engaged last year, but I’m not sure they’ll go through with the wedding. [Mid-1500s]

  go through channels Use the correct procedure, especially in a hierarchy or bureaucracy. For example, You’ll have to go through channels for approval of this expenditure. This term uses channel in the sense of “a conduit.” [Mid-1900s]

  go through one 1. Use as an intermediary, as in Bob can’t release that; you’ll have to go through the main office. Also see GO THROUGH CHANNELS. 2. Also, go right through one (like a dose of salts). Be rapidly excreted without being digested. For example, I don’t know why, but Thai cooking goes right through me, or That banana drink went through Dad like a dose of salts.

  go through the mill → See THROUGH THE MILL.

  go through the motions Do something perfunctorily, or merely pretend to do it. For example, The team is so far behind that they’re just going through the motions, or She didn’t really grieve at his death; she just went through the motions. [c. 1800]

  go through the roof 1. Also, hit the ceiling or roof. Lose one’s temper, become very angry, as in Marge went through the roof when she heard she’d been fired. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s] 2. Reach new or unexpected heights, as in After the war, food prices went through the roof. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]

  go through with → See GO THROUGH, def. 6.

  got it → See under GET IT.

  go to 1. See GOING TO. 2. Also, go toward. Contribute to a result, as in Can you name the bones that go to make the arms and legs? or The director has a good eye for seeing what will go toward an entire scene. [c. 1600] 3. Begin, start, as in By the time she went to call, she’d forgotten what she wanted to say. The related idiom go to it means “get started, get going.” P.G. Wodehouse used it in Louder & Funnier (1932): “Stoke up and go to it.” [First half of 1700s]

  go to any length Also, go to great lengths. Take a great deal of trouble for something, go to extremes. For example, He’ll go to great lengths to make a perfect chocolate cake, or, as Benjamin Disraeli put it in Coningsby (1844): “He would go... [to] any lengths for his party.”

  go to bat for Take the side of, support, defend. For example, Dad will always go to bat for his kids. This term originated in baseball, where it means simply substituting for another batter, but it is the idea of helping one’s team in this way that has been transferred to more general use. [Slang; early 1900s]

  go to bed with 1. Engage in sex with; see GO ALL THE WAY, def. 2. 2. go to bed with the chickens. Retire very early, as in She made the children go to bed with the chickens. The chickens here alludes to the fact that domestic fowl generally go to sleep at sundown. 3. Also, get in or into bed with. Form a close association with, as in There’s always the danger that the inspectors will get in bed with the industries they’re supposed to be inspecting. This usage simply extends the sexual relationship of def. 1 to broader use. 4. go to bed. Start printing a newspaper or other publication. The allusion here is that the morning newspaper is usually printed sometime during the night before. For example, It’s too late for your story; the paper went to bed half an hour ago. [Mid-1800s]

  go together 1. Be mutually suitable, appropriate, or harmonious, as in Pink and purple can go together well, or I don’t think champagne and meatloaf go together. [c. 1600] 2. Date on a regular basis, keep company. For example, Are Bill and Ann still going together? [Late 1800s] Also see GO STEADY; GO WITH.

  go to hell Also, go to the devil or dickens. Go to everlasting torment, ruin, or perdition. For example, Nancy did not mince words but simply told him to go the devil, or Go to hell, Tom, I won’t give you another cent. These phrases are often uttered as angry imperatives to order someone to go away. Hell, devil, and dickens (a euphemism for “devil”) all refer to the underworld, the residence of the devil, from which a person would never return. “[1600s] A variant is go to hell and back again, meaning to have survived a terrible experience of some kind. [Mid-1800s] In contrast, the past sense of the idiom, gone to hell, has meant to have deteriorated badly or been ruined since the early 1800s. See also GO TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET; GO TO POT.

  go to hell in a handbasket, to To be ruined, to quickly go downhill. The term alludes to the past sense of GO TO HELL, but the reason for “handbasket” has been lost. Possibly the alliteration has helped it survive since it was first recorded in 1865. Today it is usually applied as a broad generalization, as in With the adoption of so many English words, French purists hold that their language is going to hell in a handbasket. See also GO TO POT.

  go to it → See GO TO, def. 3.

  go too far Exceed some limit, as in I wouldn’t go too far with those remarks or they’ll turn on you, or If Jane goes too far, she’ll be sent to her room. [Second half of 1500s]

  go to one’s head 1. Make one dizzy or drunk, as in Wine always goes to her head. [c. 1900] 2. Make one proud or vain, as in All this money is going to his head. [Early 1900s]

  go to pieces Experience an emotional or mental breakdown, as in When she heard of his death she went to pieces. [Late 1800s] For a synonym, see FALL APART.

  go to pot Also, go to the dogs. Deteriorate, decline; come to a bad end. For example, My lawn has gone to pot during the drought, or The city schools are going to the dogs. The first of these colloquial expressions dates from the late 1500s and alludes to inferior pieces of meat being cut up for the stewpot. The second, from the 1600s, alludes to the traditional view of dogs as inferior creatures. Also see RACK AND RUIN; RUN TO SEED.

  go to show Help to indicate or serve as evidence. For example, His research goes to show that the medication is ineffective. This term was first recorded in 1842.

  go to the devil → See GO TO HELL.

 
go to the dogs → See under GO TO POT.

  go to the expense → See GO TO THE TROUBLE.

  go to the mat Fight until one side or another is victorious, as in The governor said he’d go to the mat for this bill. This term comes from wrestling and evokes the holding of an opponent when both contestants are down on the mat, the padded floor-covering used in matches. It has been used figuratively since about 1900.

  go to the trouble Also, take the trouble; go to the bother or the expense. Make the effort or spend the money for something. For example, He went to the trouble of calling every single participant, or She took the trouble to iron all the clothes, or Don’t go to the bother of writing them, or They went to the expense of hiring a limousine. [Second half of 1800s] Also see PUT ONESELF OUT.

  go to the wall 1. Lose a conflict, be defeated; also, yield. For example, In spite of their efforts, they went to the wall, or When it’s a matter of family versus friends, friends must go to the wall. [Late 1500s] 2. Fail in business, go bankrupt. For example, First one branch and then another did poorly, and the store finally went to the wall. [First half of 1800s] 3. Take an extreme position, hold out to the end. For example, The President went to the wall to defend his choice to head the FBI. For a synonym, see GO TO THE MAT.

  go to town Also, go to town on. 1. Do something efficiently and energetically. For example, She really went to town, not only developing and printing the film but making both mat and frame. [Early 1900s] 2. Act without restraint, overindulge, as in He went to town on the hors d’oeuvres, finishing nearly all of them. [Early 1900s] 3. Be successful, as in After months of hard work, their business is really going to town. [Mid-1900s]