HERE GOES, HERE GOES NOTHING, BEST BIB AND TUCKER or SUNDAY-GO-TO-MEETING CLOTHES, COMINGS AND GOINGS, EASY COME EASY GO, GET GOING, GET-UP-AND-GO, HAVE A GO AT, HEART GOES OUT TO, KNOW WHETHER ONE IS COMING OR GOING, LET GO, MAKE A GO OF, NO DEAL or NO GO, ON THE GO, PAY AS ONE GOES, TOUCH AND GO. [go about] {v.} 1. To be busy with; keep busy at or working on; start working on; do. * /Bobby is going about his homework very seriously tonight./ * /Just go about your business and don't keep looking out of the window./ * /How will you go about building the bird house?/ Syn.: GO AT(2). 2a. To move from one place or person to another. * /Some people go about telling untrue stories./ 2b. To go together. - Usually used with "with". * /Mother doesn't want me to go about with Jane and her friends any more./ Syn.: GO AROUND(1b). [go about one's business] {v. phr.} To mind one's own affairs. * /Fred kept bothering me with his questions all day, so I finally told him to go about his business and leave me alone./ [go after] {v.} To try to get. * /"First find out what job you want and then go after it," said Jim's father./ [go against the grain] See: AGAINST THE GRAIN(2). [go ahead] {v.} To begin to do something; not wait. * /The teacher told the students not to write on the paper yet, but John went ahead and wrote his name./ * /"May I ask you a question?" "Go ahead."/ Compare: GO ON(1). [go astray] {v. phr.} To become lost. * /The letter has obviously gone astray; otherwise it would have been delivered a long time ago./ [goal] See: FIELD GOAL. [goal line] {n.} A line that marks the goal in a game (as football.) * /The fullback went over the goal line from five yards out./ [goal line stand] {n.} A strong defensive effort right in front of the goal line. * /A goal line stand by the home team held the visitors on the two-yard line./ [go all the way with] See: ALL THE WAY. [go along] {v.} 1. To move along; continue. * /Uncle Bill made up the story as he went along./ Compare: GO ON(1). 2. To go together or as company; go for fun. - Often used with "with". /Mary went along with us to Jane's house./ * /John just went along for the ride to the ball game. He didn't want to play./ * /When one filling station cuts gasoline prices, the others usually go along./ 3. To agree; cooperate. - Often used with "with". * /"Jane is a nice girl." "I'll go along with that," said Bill./ * /Just because the other boys do something bad, you don't have to go along with it./ [go ape] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become highly excited or behave in a crazy way. * /Amy went ape over the hotel and beautiful beaches./ * /The electric door opener malfunctioned and caused the garage door to go ape./ [go around] {v.} 1a. To go from one place or person to another. * /Mr. Smith is going around looking for work./ * /Don't go around telling lies like that./ * /Chicken pox is going around the neighborhood./ * /A rumor is going around school that we will get the afternoon off./ 1b. To go together; keep company. - Usually used with "with". * /Bill goes around with boys older than he is because he is big for his age./ Syn.: GO ABOUT(2b). 2. To be enough to give to everyone; be enough for all. * /There are not enough desks to go around in the classroom./ [go around in circles] See: IN A CIRCLE. [goat] See: GET ONE'S GOAT. [go at] {v.} 1. To start to fight with; attack. * /The dog and the cat are going at each other again./ 2. To make a beginning on; approach; tackle. * /How are you going to go at the job of fixing the roof?/ Compare: START IN. Syn.: GO ABOUT(1). [go at it hammer and tongs] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To attack or fight with great strength or energy; have a bad argument. * /Bill slapped George's face and now they're going at it hammer and tongs in back of the house./ * /Helen and Mary have been arguing all day, and now they are going at it hammer and tongs again./ 2. To start or do something with much strength, energy, or enthusiasm. * /The farmer had to chop down a tree and he went at it hammer and tongs./ * /Charles had a lot of homework to do and he went at it hammer and tongs till bedtime./ Compare: IN EARNEST, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN. [go AWOL] See: ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE. [go back on] {v. phr.} 1. To turn against; not be faithful or loyal to. * /Many of the man's friends went back on him when he was sent to prison./ * /The boy's father told him not to go back on his promise./ Compare: BACK DOWN, TURN ONE'S BACK. 2. To fail to do necessary work; not work. * /Grandfather's eyes are going back on him./ Compare: BREAK DOWN(4), GIVE OUT. [go back on one's word] {v. phr.} To renege; break a promise. * /Patrick went back on his word when he refused to marry Karen in spite of his earlier promise./ [go] or [be on the rocks] See: ON THE ROCKS. [go] or [be on the wagon] See: ON THE WAGON. Contrast: FALL OFF THE WAGON. [go bail for] {v. phr.} To advance the necessary money as security in order to release an accused person until trial. * /The arrested driver had no trouble finding someone to go bail for him./ [go begging] {v. phr.} To be not needed or wanted. * /Many old homes in the city go begging./ * /Most of the apples on the market went begging./ [go broke] {v. phr.}, {slang} To lose all one's money; especially by taking a chance; owe more than you can pay. * /The inventor went broke because nobody would buy his machine./ * /Dan had a quarter but he went broke matching pennies with Fred./ [go-between] {n.} An intermediary. * /They expect Mr. Smith to act as a go-between in the dispute between management and labor./ [go bust] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become bankrupt. * /Our company lost a lot of money and went bust./ Compare: BELLY UP. [go-by] See: GIVE THE GO-BY. [go by] {v.} 1. To go or move past; pass. * /Bob had to go by the post office on his way to school, so he mailed the letter./ 2. To follow; copy; obey. * /Mother goes by a pattern when she makes a dress./ * /You will find Main Street without trouble if you go by Father's directions./ * /If you ride a bicycle, you must go by the rules of the road./ 3. To be known by; be called. * /Many actors do not go by their real names./ * /Fred goes by the nickname of Chubby./ 4. To pass; be over; end. * /Time goes by quickly on vacation./ * /The horse and buggy days have gone by./ * /The flowers have all gone by. What will I do for a bouquet?/ 5. To stop for a short visit; go to someone's house for a short while. * /"Have you seen Bill lately?" "Yes, I went by his house last week."/ Compare: STOP BY. [go by the board] also [pass by the board] {v. phr.} To go away or disappear forever, be forgotten or not used. * /Tom had several chances to go to college, but he let them go by the board./ * /Grandfather said he was too old to go to the beach. "Those days have passed by the board," he said./ Compare: DOWN THE DRAIN. [go by the name of] {v. phr.} To be called. * /Adolf Schicklegruber went by the name of Adolf Hitler./ [go chase oneself] {v. phr.}, {slang} Go away and stop being a nuisance. * /John's father was busy and told him to go chase himself./ * /The owner of the store told the boys in front to go chase themselves./ Compare: BEAT IT, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE. [God] See: IN THE LAP OP THE GODS also ON THE KNEES OP THE GODS, MY GOD or MY GOODNESS, WOULD THAT or WOULD GOD. [God forbid] {interj.} May God prevent (something from happening); I hope that will not happen or is not true. * /Someone told the worried mother that her son might have drowned. She said, "God forbid!"/ * /God forbid that the dam break and flood the valley!/ Compare: PERISH THE THOUGHT. [Godfrey] See: GREAT GODFREY. [God knows] or [goodness knows] or [heaven knows] {informal} 1. Maybe God knows but I don't know and no one else knows. - Often used with "only". * /Do you know where Susan is? God only knows!/ 2. Surely; certainly. * /Goodness knows, the poor man needs the money./ * /Heaven only knows, I have tried hard enough./ [Godmother] See: FAIRY GODMOTHER. [go down] {v. phr.} 1. To deteriorate in quality. * /This hotel, which used to be one of the best, has gone down during the past few years./ 2. To become lower in price. * /It is said that the price of milk is expected to go down soon./ 3. To sink. * /The Titanic went down with a lot of people aboard./ [go down in history] or [go down in the records] {v. phr.} To be remembered or recorded for always. * /The lives of great men go down in history./ * /Babe Ruth went down in history as a home run hitter./ * /The boy's straight A's for four years of college went down in the records./ * /The President said that the day the war ended would go down in history./ [go down the drain] {v. phr.} To be lost or wasted forever. * /If he doesn't pass the bar examination tomorrow, his best efforts to become a lawyer will go down the drain./ [God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb] {literary} A person who is already helpless will not have more trouble; you will not have more trouble than you can bear. * /After Mr. Smith lost his job, the Smith's house caught fire, but the fire was put out before much harm was done. Mr. Smith said, "God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb."/ Contrast: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS. [go Dutch] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go out for fun together but have each person pay for himself. * /High school students often go Dutch to basketball games./ * /Sometimes boys and girls go Dutch on dates./ * /The girl knew her boyfriend had little money, so she offered to go Dutch./ Compare: DUTCH TREAT. [go easy] See: TAKE IT EASY(1). [go fly a kite] {v. phr.}, {slang} To go away; leave. Usually used as a command, to show that you do not accept someone's ideas. * /Harry was tired of John's advice and told him to go fly a kite./ * /After Mary stood around telling Sue what was wrong with her dress. Sue told her to go fly a kite./ Compare: DROP DEAD, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE. [go for] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To try to get; aim for; try for. * /Our team is going for the championship in the game tonight./ * /The dog went for Bob's leg./ 2. To favor; support; like. * /Little Susie really goes for ice cream./ * /Bob goes for Jane in a big way./ 3. To attack; begin to fight or argue with. * /The Indian jumped out of the *hush and went for Daniel./ * /Molly went for James about being late as soon as he got home./ [go for a spin] {v. phr.} To go for a ride in a car. * /Billy has invited us to go for a spin in his new car./ [go for broke] {v. phr.}, {slang} To risk everything on one big effort; use all your energy and skill; try as hard as possible. * /The racing car driver decided to go for broke in the biggest race of the year./ Compare: ALL-OUT. [go for nothing] also {formal} [go for naught] {v. phr.} To count for nothing; be useless; be wasted. * /What the teacher said went for nothing because the pupils did not pay attention./ * /I hope that all your good work doesn't go for naught./ Compare: IN VAIN. [go from bad to worse] {adv. phr.} To change from a bad position or condition to a worse one; become worse. * /Dick's typing went from bad to worse when he was tired./ * /Jack's conduct in school has gone from bad to worse./ Compare: OUT OF THE PRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE. [go from strength to strength] {v. phr.} To move forward, increasing one's fame, power, or fortune in a series of successful achievements. * /Our basketball team has gone from strength to strength./ [go-getter] {n.} A person who works hard to become successful; an active, ambitious person who usually gets what he wants. * /The governor of the state has always been a go-getter./ * /The best salesmen are the go-getters./ [go-go] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Vigorous youthful, unusually active. * /Joe is a go-go kind of guy./ 2. Of a discotheque or the music or dances performed there. 3a. Unrestrained. 3b. Very up-to-date, hip. * /Mary wore handsome go-go boots to the discotheque last night./ [go great guns] See: GREAT GUNS. [go halfway] or [go halfway to meet one] or [meet one halfway] {v. phr.} To give up part of what you want or to do your share in reaching an agreement with someone. * /Our neighbors are willing to go halfway to meet us and pay their share for a fence between our houses./ * /Bob wants to make up after your fight and you should meet him halfway./ * /If you're willing to go halfway with us, we'll be friends again./ * /Bill met Mary halfway after their argument./ [go halves] {v. phr.}, {informal} To share half or equally become partners. * /The boys went halves in raising pigs./ * /The men are going halves in a new business./ * /The girl bought a box of candy and went halves with her roommate./ [go hang] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To stop being of interest or importance; be forgotten. - Usually used with "let". * /Mr. Johnson let his business go hang after his wife died./ 2. To leave you alone; not bother. * /When the neighbor told Father how to manage his children, Father told him to go hang./ Compare: TELL WHERE TO GET OFF. [go hard with] {v. phr.} To be painful, troublesome, or hard for; happen or result badly for. - Used after "it". * /It will go hard with you if I catch you smoking./ [go haywire] {v. phr.}, {informal} Mixed-up, out of order, not in regular working condition. * /My electric typewriter has gone all haywire; I have to call the repair man./ [go hog wild] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become extremely agitated and go out of control. * /After the soccer game was won, the fans went hog wild./ [go in a circle] or [go in circles] See: IN A CIRCLE. [go in for] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to do; take part in; take pleasure in. * /Most girls do not go in for rough games./ * /Mrs. Henry goes in for simple meals./ Compare: GO INTO(3), TAKE UP(5b). [going and coming] See: COMING AND GOING. [going for one] {adj. phr.} Working to help; in one's favor. * /The young woman surely will get the job; she has everything going for her./ [going on] {adv. phr.} Almost; nearly. * /Joe is going on six years old./ * /It is going on six o'clock./ [going through changes] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To be in trouble, to have difficulties, to be trapped in unfavorable circumstances. * /"What's the matter with Joe?" - "He's going through changes."/ [going to] Can be expected to; planning to. - Used after "is" (or "was", etc.), with an infinitive, in the same way "will" is used, to show future. * /Some day that big tree is going to rot and fall./ * /Look at those dark clouds. It's going to rain./ * /The boys are going to practice football this afternoon./ * /For a minute Ben thought the car was going to hit him./ * /I was going to attend the meeting, but after supper I forgot about it./ - Sometimes used without the infinitive. * /That worn rope hasn't broken yet, but it's going to./ * /"Put some more wood on the fire." - "I'm going to."/ Compare: ABOUT TO(1). [go in one ear and out the other] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be not really listened to or understood; be paid no attention. * /The teacher's directions to the boy went in one ear and out the other./ * /Mother scolded Martha, but it went in one ear and out the other./ [go into] {v.} 1a. To go or fit inside of; able to be put in. * /The table is too big to go into the closet./ 1b. To be able to be divided into; be divisible into. * /Two goes into four two times./ 2. To enter a state or condition of; pass into. * /John went into a fit of temper when he didn't get his own way./ * /The sick man went into a coma./ * /The country went into mourning when the king died./ 3. To be busy in or take part in; enter as a job or profession. * /The mayor went into politics as a very young man./ * /Mr, Johnson is going into business for himself./ * /Bill wants to go into law when he gets out of school./ Compare: GO IN FOR, TAKE UP(5b). 4. To start to talk about; bring up the subject of; examine. * /We'll talk about the dead mouse after dinner, Billy. Let's not go into it now./ * /The teacher went into the subject of newspapers today./ Compare: LOOK INTO. [go into a huddle] {v. phr.} 1. To gather close together as a team in a football game, usually to find out your team's next play. * /The football team which has the ball goes into a huddle before every play to get orders on what play they will use./ 2. {informal} To talk together privately about something; discuss something where others cannot hear. * /The man went into a huddle with his lawyers before answering the question./ * /The doctors went into a huddle and decided to operate./ [go into a nose dive] See: GO INTO A TAIL SPIN. [go into a tailspin] or [go into a nose dive] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fall or go down badly; collapse; give up trying. * /The team went into a tailspin after their captain was hurt, and they were badly beaten./ 2. {informal} To become very anxious, confused, or mentally sick; give up hope. * /The man went into a tailspin after his wife died and he never got over it./ [go into orbit] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To become very happy or successful. * /Our team has gone into orbit./ Compare: FLY HIGH. 2. To lose one's temper or control completely; become very angry. * /John was afraid his father would go into orbit when he found out about the car accident./ Compare: HIT THE CEILING. [go it] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To go fast; run hard; not to spare yourself. - Often used as a command. * /The coach yelled to the runner to go it./ * /At the party the girls cheered for their partners to go it./ * /The boys called, "Go it!" to the dog chasing the cat./ 2. To live; continue to do or work. * /John wants to leave home and go it alone./ Compare: ON ONE'S OWN. [go jump in the lake] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go away and quit being a bother. * /George was tired of Tom's advice and told him to go jump in the lake./ Compare: GO CHASE YOURSELF, GO FLY A KITE. [gold] See: HEART OF GOLD. [golden] See: KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG. [goldfish bowl] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A situation in which it is not possible to keep things secret for any length of time. * /Washington Society is a goldfish bowl./ 2. An apartment or place that provides no privacy for its occupant, e.g., an office that has too many windows. * /Joe's office is a goldfish bowl, that's why I didn't let him kiss me there./ [golf widow] {n.}, {informal} A woman whose husband is often away from home playing golf. * /Mrs. Thompson didn't like being a golf widow./ [go legit] {v. phr.} To start practicing a legitimate business after having been operating outside of the law. * /"The old days are over," the crime boss said to his friends. "We are going legit as of right now."/ [go like clockwork] or [go off like clockwork] {v. phr.}, {informal} To run smoothly and regularly like the workings of a clock; go smoothly and without difficulty; go on time or as planned. * /The car's motor went like clockwork after Bob fixed it./ * /The birthday party went off like clockwork and everyone had a good time./ [go native] {v. phr.} To behave like a native (said of European Americans in tropical countries). * /Mainlanders often go native in Hawaii./ [gone goose] also [gone gosling] {n.}, {slang} A person for whom there is no hope. * /Herbert's grades have been so low that he is a gone goose for the year./ * /The man was a gone gosling when a policeman caught him breaking the store window./ [gone with the wind] {adj. phr.} Gone forever; past; vanished. * /All the Indians who used to live here are gone with the wind./ * /Joe knew that his chance to get an "A" was gone with the wind when he saw how hard the test was./ Compare: DOWN THE DRAIN. [good] See: AS GOOD AS, AS GOOD AS ONE GETS, BUT GOOD, DO ONE GOOD, FOR GOOD, FOR GOOD MEASURE, GET THE GOODS ON, HOLD GOOD, IN GOOD, IN GOOD FAITH, IN GOOD TIME, IN ONE'S GOOD GRACES, IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, MAKE GOOD, MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE, NO GOOD, ON ONE'S GOOD BEHAVIOR, ON ONE'S GOOD SIDE, SO FAR, SO GOOD, STAND IN GOOD STEAD, TO THE GOOD, WELL AND GOOD, WITH GOOD GRACE. [good and ---] {adv.}, {informal} Very; completely. * /John's father was good and mad when John came home late./ * /Jack knew good and well that Tom had thrown the snowball at him./ * /I pushed Bill good and hard./ * /Susan wouldn't come out till she was good and ready./ * /I beat Joe good and proper in the game of marbles./ [good as] See: AS GOOD AS. [good as one's promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD. [good as one's word] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD. [good buddy] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's hand radio jargon} Salutation used by truckers and automobile drivers who have CB radios. * /What's the Smokey situation, good buddy?/ [good command] See: HAVE A GOOD COMMAND OF. [good day] {interj.} Hello or goodbye. - Used as a formal greeting or salute when you meet or leave someone during the day. * /Miss Rogers said, "Good day!" when she met her friend on the street./ * /Mr. Lee said "Good day!" and left the office./ [good deal] or [great deal] {n.}, {informal} A large amount; much. - Used with "a". * /Mrs. Walker's long illness cost her a good deal./ * /George spends a great deal of his time watching television./ - Often used like an adverb. * /Cleaning up after the party took a great deal more work than the girls expected./ * /Usually it takes Father half an hour to drive to work, but in bad weather it takes a good deal longer./ * /Mother likes the gloves Mary gave her, and she uses them a good deal./ * /George is a good deal like his father; they both love to eat./ Syn.: A LOT, QUITE A LITTLE. Compare: ALL KINDS OF, GOOD MANY. Contrast: A LITTLE. [good egg] {slang} or {informal} [good scout] {n. phr.} A friendly, kind or good-natured person, a nice fellow. * /Tommy is such a good egg that everybody wants to be his friend./ Syn.: REGULAR GUY. Contrast: BAD EGG. [good evening] {interj.} Hello or goodbye. - Used as a formal greeting or salute when you meet or leave someone in the evening. * /When the TV program began, an announcer appeared and said, "Good evening, everyone."/ * /Finally Aunt May stood up and said, "I will not sell the house. Good evening, Mr. Flynn. "/ [good faith] {n.} 1. Belief in another person's honesty; trust. * /Uncle Dick let me have the keys to his candy store to show his good faith./ - Often used in the phrase "in good faith". * /The teacher accepted Bob's excuse for being late in good faith./ 2. Honesty of purpose; trustworthiness. * /John agreed to buy Ted's bicycle for $20, and he paid him $5 right away to show his good faith./ [good for] or [hurrah for] {adj. phr.} Used with a name or pronoun to praise someone. * /Good for George! He won the 100-yard dash./ * /You got 100 on the test? Hurrah for you./ [good-for-nothing] {adj. phr.} Worthless. * /While Janice works hard each day, her good-for-nothing husband hangs around in the bars./ [good grief!] {interj.}, {informal} Wow! Indication of surprise, good or bad. * /"Good grief," Joe cried out loud. "Is this all you will pay me for my hard work?"/ * /What a figure Melanie has, good grief! I wonder if she would be willing to go out with me./ Compare: GOODNESS GRACIOUS!, HEAVENLY DAYS!, HOLY CATS or HOLY COW or HOLY MACKEREL or HOLY MOSES. See: GOODNIGHT(2). [good head on one's shoulders] {n. phr.} Good sense; good judgment. * /Jack has a good head on his shoulders; he never drives too fast./ * /Alice is a girl with a good head on her shoulders, she always keeps good company./ * /George showed he had a good head on his shoulders by refusing to cheat./ [good many] or [great many] {n.} or {adj.} A large number (of); very many. Used with "a". * /We found some fall flowers, but the frost had already killed a good many./ * /A great many of the houses were knocked down by the earthquake./ * /Tom has a good many friends at school./ * /Mary has a great many ideas for interesting programs./ Syn.: QUITE A FEW. Compare: A LOT, ANY NUMBER, GOOD DEAL. Contrast: A FEW. [good nature] {n.} Readiness to please others and to be pleased. Cheerfulness, pleasantness. * /Everybody likes Mr. Crowe because of his good nature./ * /Miss Reynolds was remembered by her students for her good nature./ [goodness] See: HONEST-TO-GOODNESS, MY GOD or MY GOODNESS. [goodness gracious] {interj.}, {slightly archaic} Exclamation of surprise and a certain degree of disapproval. * /"Can my boyfriend stay overnight, Dad?" Melanie asked. "Goodness gracious, most certainly not!" her father replied. "What would the neighbors think?"/ [goodness knows] See: GOD KNOWS. [good night] {interj.} 1. Used as a polite phrase when you leave someone at night. * /"Good night!" said Bob as he left Dick's house after the party. "I'll see you in the morning."/ * /Bill said good night to his parents and went upstairs to bed./ 2. or [good grief] - Used to show surprise and often some fear or anger. * /Mr. Johnson's eyes opened wide when he saw the fish his little boy had caught, and said, "Good night!"/ * /Mother was angry and said to Mary, "Good grief! Haven't you started the dishes yet?"/ [good riddance] {n.} A loss that you are glad about. Often used as an exclamation, and in the sentence "good riddance to bad rubbish". To show that you are glad that something or somebody has been taken or sent away. * /The boys thought it was good riddance when the troublemaker was sent home./ * /When Mr. Roberts' old car was stolen he thought it was good riddance./ * /Betty thought it was good riddance when her little brother broke his toy drum./ * /"I'm going and won't come back," said John. "Good riddance to bad rubbish!" said Mary./ [goods] See: DELIVER THE GOODS, CONSUMER GOODS. [good show!] {adj. phr.} Excellent; terrific; wonderful. * /"Good show, boys!" the coach cried, when our team won the game./ [good scout] See: GOOD EGG. [go off] {v.} 1. To leave; to depart. * /Helen's mother told her not to go off without telling her./ 2a. To be fired; explode. * /The firecracker went off and scared Jack's dog./ 2b. To begin to ring or buzz. * /The alarm clock went off at six o'clock and woke Father./ 3. To happen. * /The party went off without any trouble./ * /The parade went off without rain./ [go off half-cocked] also [go off at half cock] {v. phr.}, {informal} To act or speak before getting ready; to do something too soon. * /Bill often goes off half cocked./ * /Mr. Jones was thinking about quilting his job, but his wife told him not to go at half cock./ [go off like clockwork] See: GO LIKE CLOCKWORK. [go off the deep end] or [go overboard] {v. phr.}, {informal} To act excitedly and without careful thinking. * /John has gone off the deep end about owning a motorcycle./ * /Mike warned his roommate not to go off the deep end and get married./ * /Some girls go overboard for handsome movie and television actors./ [goof off] {v.}, {slang} To loaf or be lazy; not want to work or be serious; fool around. * /Tow didn't get promoted because he goofed off all the time and never did his homework./ * /If you goof off on the job too much, you'll be fired./ [go off in a huff]{v. phr.} To depart in anger. * /Marian went off in a huff just because Jeff failed to open the door for her./ [go on] {v.} 1a. To continue; not stop. * /After he was hit by the ball, Billy quit pitching and went home, but the game went on./ * /The TV picture began to jump, and it went on like that until Father turned a knob./ * /I asked Jane a question but she went on reading and didn't answer./ * /Mother told Jim to stop, but he went on hitting Susan./ Syn.: KEEP ON. 1b. To continue after a pause; begin with the next thing. * /"Go on! I'm listening," said Mother./ * /The teacher pointed to the map, and went on, "But the land that Columbus came to was not India."/ - Often used before an infinitive. * /Father said Mother had gone to the hospital, and went on to say that Grandmother was coming to take care of us./ 1c. (Of time:) To pass. * /As time went on, Mary began to wonder if John had forgotten their date./ * /The years went on, and Betty's classmates became gray-haired men and women./ 2. To happen. * /Mr. Scott heard the noise and went to see what was going on in the hall./ * /The teacher knows what goes on when she leaves the room./ Syn.: TAKE PLACE. 3. To talk for too long, often angrily. * /We thought Jane would never finish going on about the amount of homework she had./ 4. To fit on; be able to be worn. * /My little brother's coat wouldn't go on me. It was too small./ 5. Stop trying to fool me; I don't believe you. - Used as a command, sometimes with "with". * /When Father told Mother she was the prettiest girl in the world. Mother just said, "Oh, go on, Charles."/ * /"Aunt May, your picture is in the paper." "Go on with you, boy!"/ [go on record] {v. phr.} To make an official statement as opposed to an informal one; say something officially that may be quoted with the person's name added for reference. * /I want to go on record that I oppose the merger with the firm of Catwallender and Swartvik./ [go on the rocks] See: ON THE ROCKS. [go one's way] {v. phr.} 1. To start again or continue to where you are going. * /The milkman left the milk and went his way./ * /The man stopped and asked me for a match, then went his way./ Compare: GO ALONG, GO ON. 2. To go or act the way you want to or usually do. * /Joe just wants to go his way and mind his own business./ * /Don't tell me how to do my job. You go your way and I'll go mine./ * /George was not a good sport; when the game did not go his way, he became angry and quit./ [goose] See: COOK ONE'S GOOSE, FOX AND GEESE, KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG, GONE GOOSE. [goose bumps] or [goose pimples] {n. plural}, {informal} Small bumps that come on a person's skin when he gets cold or afraid. * /Nancy gets goose bumps when she sees a snake./ * /Ann, put on your sweater; you're so cold you have goose pimples on your arms./ [go or drive to the wall] See: TO THE WALL. [go out] {v. phr.} 1. To pass out of date or style. * /Short skirts are gradually going out./ 2. To stop giving off light or burning. * /Put more wood on the fire or it will go out./ 3. To leave. * /When I called Sue, her mother said that she had just gone out./ [go out for] or [come out for] {v. phr.} To try for a place on (an athletic team.) * /Ten boys went out for track that spring./ * /The coach asked Tom why he didn't come out for basketball./ [go out of business] {v. phr.} To cease functioning as a commercial enterprise. * /The windows of the store are all boarded up because they went out of business./ [go out of one's way] {v. phr.} To make an extra effort; do more than usual. * /Jane went out of her way to be nice to the new girl./ * /Don did not like Charles, and he went out of his way to say bad things about Charles./ Compare: BEND OVER BACKWARD, KNOCK ONESELF OUT. [go out the window] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go out of effect; be abandoned. * /During the war, the school dress code went out the window./ [go over] {v.} 1. To examine; think about or look at carefully. * /The teacher went over the list and picked John's name./ * /The police went over the gun for fingerprints./ 2. To repeat; do again. * /Don't make me go all over it again./ * /We painted the house once, then we went over it again./ 3. To read again; study. * /After you finish the test, go over it again to look for mistakes./ * /They went over their lessons together at night./ 4. To cross; go to stop or visit; travel. * /We went over to the other side of the street./ * /I'm going over to Mary's house./ * /We went over to the next town to the game./ 5. To change what you believe. * /Father is a Democrat, but he says that he is going over to the Republicans in the next election./ * /Many of the natives on the island went over to Christianity after the white men came./ 6. To be liked; succeed. - Often used in the informal phrase "go over big". * /Bill's joke went over big with the other boys and girls./ * /Your idea went over well with the boss./ [go over like a lead balloon] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fail to generate a positive response or enthusiasm; to meet with boredom or disapproval. * /The president's suggested budget cuts went over like a lead balloon./ * /Jack's off-color jokes went over like a lead balloon./ [go over one's head] {v. phr.} 1. To be too difficult to understand. * /Penny complains that what her math teacher says simply goes over her head./ 2. To do something without the permission of one's superior. * /Fred went over his boss's head when he signed the contract on his own./ [go over with a fine-tooth comb] See: FINE-TOOTH COMB. [gopher ball] {n.}, {slang} A baseball pitch that is hit for a home run. * /The pitcher's only weakness this year is the gopher ball./ [go places] See: GO TO TOWN(2). [go sit on a tack] {v.}, {slang} Shut up and go away; stop bothering. - Usually used as a command and considered rude. * /Henry told Bill to go sit on a tack./ Compare: GO JUMP IN THE LAKE. [gosling] See: GONE GOOSE also GONE GOSLING. [go somebody one better] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something better than (someone else); do more or better than; beat. * /Bill's mother gave the boys in Bill's club hot dogs for refreshments, so Tom's mother said that she would go her one better next time by giving them hot dogs and ice cream./ * /John made a good dive into the water, but Bob went him one better by diving in backwards./ [go stag] {v. phr.} 1. To go to a dance or party without a companion of the opposite sex. * /When Sally turned him down, Tom decided to go stag to the college prom./ 2. To participate in a party for men only. * /Mrs. Smith's husband frequently goes stag, leaving her at home./ [go steady] {v. phr.} To go on dates with the same person all the time; dale just one person. * /At first Tom and Martha were not serious about each other, but now they are going steady./ * /Jean went steady with Bob for a year; then they had a quarrel and stopped dating each other./ Syn.: KEEP COMPANY. Contrast: PLAY THE FIELD. [go straight] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become an honest person; lead an honest life. * /After the man got out of prison, he went straight./ * /Mr. Wright promised to go straight if the judge would let him go free./ [got a thing going] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To be engaged in a pleasurable or profitable activity with someone else as a partner either in romance or in mutually profitable business. * /"You two seem to have got a thing going, haven't you?"/ * /"You've got a good thing going with your travel bureau, why quit now?"/ [go the rounds] {v. phr.} To pass or be told from one person to another; spread among many people. * /There is a rumor going the rounds that Mr. Norton will be the new superintendent./ * /The story about Mr. Cox's falling into the lake is making the rounds./ Syn.: GO AROUND. [go the whole hog] or [go whole hog] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something completely or thoroughly; to give all your strength or attention to something. * /When Bob became interested in model airplanes, he went the whole hog./ * /The family went whole hog at the fair, and spent a lot of money./ Compare: ALL OUT, ALL THE WAY, SHOOT THE WORKS. [go through] {v.} 1. To examine or think about carefully; search. * /I went through the papers looking for Jane's letter./ * /Mother went through the drawer looking for the sweater./ Syn.: GO OVER. 2. To experience; suffer; live through. * /Frank went through many dangers during the war./ 3. To do what you are supposed to do; do what you promised. * /I went through my part of the bargain, but you didn't go through your part./ Syn.: CARRY OUT. 4. To go or continue to the end of; do or use all of. * /Jack went through the magazine quickly./ * /We went through all our money at the circus./ Syn.: RUN THROUGH. 5. To be allowed; pass; be agreed on. * /I hope the new law we want goes through Congress./ * /The sale of the store went through quickly./ [go through hell and high water] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go through danger, or trouble. * /John is ready to go through hell and high water to help his chum./ * /The soldiers went through hell and high water to capture the fort./ Compare: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, THROUGH THE MILL. [go through the motions] {v. phr.} To pretend to do something by moving or acting as if you were really doing it; do something without really trying hard or caring. * /Jane was angry because she couldn't go out, and when her mother said to dust her room she just went through the motions./ * /The team was so far behind in the game that they just went through the motions of playing at the end./ [go through with] {v. phr.} To finish; do as planned or agreed; not stop or fail to do. * /The boys don't think Bob will go through with his plans to spend the summer at a camp./ * /Mr. Trent hopes the city won't go through with its plans to widen the street./ Syn.: CARRY OUT. Compare: CARRY THROUGH, LIVE UP TO. [go to] {v.} To be ready to do; start doing something. * /When Jack went to write down the telephone number, he had forgotten it./ [go to any length] {v. phr.} To do everything you can. * /Bill will go to any length to keep Dick from getting a date with Mary./ Compare: ALL-OUT. [go to bat for] {v. phr.}, {informal} To help out in trouble or need; give aid to. * /Everybody else thought Billy had broken the window, but Tom went to bat for him./ * /Mary went to bat for the new club program./ Syn.: STAND UP FOR. [go to bed with the chickens] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go to bed early at night. * /On the farm John worked hard and went to bed with the chickens./ * /Mr. Barnes goes to bed with the chickens because he has to get up at 5 A.M./ [go together] {v.} 1. To go with the same boy or girl all the time; date just one person. * /Herbert and Thelma go together./ Compare: GO STEADY, GO WITH(2), KEEP COMPANY. 2. To be suitable or agreeable with each other; match. * /Roast turkey and cranberries go together./ * /Ice cream and cake go together./ * /Green and yellow go together./ [go to great lengths] See: GO TO ANY LENGTH. [go to hell] See: GO TO THE DEVIL. [go to it!] {v. phr.} An expression of encouragement meaning go ahead; proceed. * /"Go to it!" my father cried enthusiastically, when I told him I had decided to become a doctor./ [go to one's head] {v. phr.} 1. To make one dizzy. * /Beer and wine go to a person's head./ * /Looking out the high window went to the woman's head./ 2. To make someone too proud; make a person think he is too important. * /Being the star player went to John's head./ * /The girl's fame as a movie actress went to her head./ [go to pieces] {v. phr.} To become very nervous or sick from nervousness; become wild. * /Mrs. Vance went to pieces when she heard her daughter was in the hospital./ * /The man went to pieces when the judge said he would have to go to prison for life./ * /Mary goes to pieces when she can't have her own way./ [go to pot] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be ruined; become bad; be destroyed. * /Mr. Jones' health has gone to pot./ * /The motel business went to pot when the new highway was built./ Compare: GO TO WRACK AND RUIN, GO TO THE DOGS. [go to prove] See: GO TO SHOW. [go to seed] or [run to seed] {v. phr.} 1. To grow