GO (Military) abbrev. for general order
get-up-and-go
n
Informal energy, drive, or ambition
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)
go [2] , I-go
n a game for two players in which stones are placed on a board marked with a grid, the object being to capture territory on the board
(from Japanese)
go about
vb intr
1 adv to move from place to place
2 prep to busy oneself with
to go about one's duties
3 prep to tackle (a problem or task)
4 prep to be actively and constantly engaged in (doing something)
he went about doing good
5 to circulate (in)
there's a lot of flu going about
6 adv (of a sailing ship) to change from one tack to another
go against
vb intr, prep
1 to be contrary to (principles or beliefs)
2 to be unfavourable to (a person)
the case went against him
go ahead
vb
1 intr, adv to start or continue, often after obtaining permission
n
♦
go-ahead
2 usually preceded by: the
Informal permission to proceed
adj
♦
go-ahead
3 enterprising or ambitious
go along
vb intr, adv; often foll by: with to refrain from disagreement; assent
go around , round
vb intr
2 adv; foll by: with to frequent the society (of a person or group of people)
she went around with older men
3 adv to be sufficient
are there enough sweets to go round?
4 to circulate (in)
measles is going round the school
5 prep to be actively and constantly engaged in (doing something)
she went around caring for the sick
6 to be long enough to encircle
will that belt go round you?
go at
vb intr, prep
1 to make an energetic attempt at (something)
go away
vb intr, adv to leave, as when starting from home on holiday
go-away bird
n (S. African) a common name for a grey-plumaged lourie of the genus Corythaixoides
(C19: imitative of its call)
go back
vb intr, adv
2 often foll by: to to originate (in)
the links with France go back to the Norman Conquest
3 foll by: on to change one's mind about; repudiate (esp. in the phrase go back on one's word)
4 (of clocks and watches) to be set to an earlier time, as during British Summer Time
when do the clocks go back this year?
go-between
n a person who acts as agent or intermediary for two people or groups in a transaction or dealing
go-by
n
Slang a deliberate snub or slight (esp. in the phrase give (a person) the go-by)
go by
vb intr
1 to pass
the cars went by, as the years go by we all get older, don't let those opportunities go by!
2 prep to be guided by
in the darkness we could only go by the stars
3 prep to use as a basis for forming an opinion or judgment
it's wise not to go only by appearances
go-cart
n
1 (Chiefly U.S. and Canadian) a small wagon for young children to ride in or pull
2 (Chiefly U.S. and Canadian) a light frame on casters or wheels that supports a baby while learning to walk, (Brit. word)
baby-walker
3 (Motor racing) See →
kart
4 another word for →
handcart
go down
vb intr, mainly adv
1 also prep to move or lead to or as if to a lower place or level; sink, decline, decrease, etc.
the ship went down this morning, prices are going down, the path goes down to the sea
3 to be remembered or recorded (esp. in the phrase go down in history)
4 to be received
his speech went down well
5 (of food) to be swallowed
6 (Bridge) to fail to make the number of tricks previously contracted for
7 (Brit) to leave a college or university at the end of a term or the academic year
8 usually foll by: with to fall ill; be infected
9 (of a celestial body) to sink or set
the sun went down before we arrived
10 (Brit)
slang to go to prison, esp. for a specified period
he went down for six months
11 Slang (chiefly U.S.) to happen
go-faster stripe
n
Informal a decorative line, often suggestive of high speed, on the bodywork of a car
go for
vb intr, prep
1 to go somewhere in order to have or fetch
he went for a drink, shall I go for a doctor?
2 to seek to obtain
I'd go for that job if I were you
3 to apply to
what I told him goes for you too
4 to prefer or choose; like
I really go for that new idea of yours
5 to be to the advantage of
you'll have great things going for you in the New Year
6 to make a physical or verbal attack on
7 to be considered to be of a stated importance or value
his twenty years went for nothing when he was made redundant
8 ♦
go for it
Informal to make the maximum effort to achieve a particular goal
go forth
vb intr, adv
Archaic or formal
1 to be issued
the command went forth that taxes should be collected
2 to go out
the army went forth to battle
go-getter
n
Informal an ambitious enterprising person
♦
go-getting adj
go-go
adj
Informal (chiefly U.S. and Canadian)
1 of or relating to discos or the lively music and dancing performed in them
2 dynamic or forceful
(C20: altered from French à-gogo aplenty, ad lib: sense influenced by English verb go)
go-go dancer
n a dancer, usually scantily dressed, who performs rhythmic and often erotic modern dance routines, esp. in a nightclub or disco
go in
vb intr, mainly adv
3 (of the sun) to become hidden behind a cloud
4 to be assimilated or grasped
nothing much goes in if I try to read in the evenings
5 (Cricket) to begin an innings
a to enter as a competitor or contestant
b to adopt as an activity, interest, or guiding principle
she went in for nursing, some men go in for football in a big way
go into
vb intr, prep
2 to start a career in
to go into publishing
3 to investigate or examine
to go into the problem of price increases
4 to discuss
we won't go into that now
5 to dress oneself differently in
to go into mourning
6 to hit
the car had gone into a lamppost
7 to go to live in or be admitted to, esp. temporarily
she went into hospital on Tuesday
8 to enter a specified state
she went into fits of laughter
go-kart , go-cart
n See →
kart
go off
vb intr
1 adv (of power, a water supply, etc.) to cease to be available, running, or functioning
the lights suddenly went off
2 adv to be discharged or activated; explode
3 adv to occur as specified
the meeting went off well
4 to leave (a place)
the actors went off stage
5 adv (of a sensation) to gradually cease to be felt or perceived
7 adv to enter a specified state or condition
she went off into hysterics
8 adv; foll by: with to abscond (with)
9 adv (of concrete, mortar, etc.) to harden
10 adv (Brit)
informal (of food, milk, etc.) to become stale or rotten
11 prep (Brit)
informal to cease to like
she went off him after their marriage
12 adv
Taboo slang to have an orgasm
13 adv (Austral)
slang (of premises) to be raided by the police
14 adv (Austral)
slang (of a racehorse) to win a fixed race
15 adv (Austral)
slang to be stolen
go on
vb intr, mainly adv
2 to happen or take place
there's something peculiar going on here
3 (of power, water supply, etc.) to start running or functioning
4 prep to mount or board and ride on, esp. as a treat
children love to go on donkeys at the seaside
5 (Theatre) to make an entrance on stage
6 to act or behave
he goes on as though he's rich
7 to talk excessively; chatter
8 to continue talking, esp. after a short pause
``When I am Prime Minister,'' he went on, ``we shall abolish taxes.''
9 foll by: at to criticize or nag
stop going on at me all the time!
10 prep to use as a basis for further thought or action
the police had no evidence at all to go on in the murder case
11 foll by: for (Brit) to approach (a time, age, amount, etc.)
he's going on for his hundredth birthday
12 (Cricket) to start to bowl
14 (of clothes) to be capable of being put on
15 ♦
go much on used with a negative (Brit) to care for; like
16 ♦
something to go on or to be going on with something that is adequate for the present time
interj
17 I don't believe what you're saying
go out
vb intr, adv
1 to depart from a room, house, country, etc.
2 to cease to illuminate, burn, or function
the fire has gone out
3 to cease to be fashionable or popular
that style went out ages ago!
4 to become unconscious or fall asleep
she went out like a light
5 (of a broadcast) to be transmitted
6 to go to entertainments, social functions, etc.
7 usually foll by: with or together to associate (with a person of the opposite sex) regularly; date
8 (of workers) to begin to strike
9 foll by: to to be extended (to)
our sympathy went out to her on the death of her sister
10 (Cards, etc.) to get rid of the last card, token, etc., in one's hand
11 ♦
go all out to make a great effort to achieve or obtain something
he went all out to pass the exam
go over
vb intr
1 to be received in a specified manner
the concert went over very well
2 prep (Also)
go through to examine and revise as necessary
he went over the accounts
3 prep (Also)
go through to clean
she went over the room before her mother came
4 prep to check and repair
can you go over my car please?
5 prep (Also)
go through to rehearse
I'll go over my lines before the play
a to change (to a different practice or system)
will Britain ever go over to driving on the right?
b to change one's allegiances
7 prep
Slang to do physical violence to
they went over him with an iron bar
go-slow
n
a a deliberate slackening of the rate of production by organized labour as a tactic in industrial conflict
b (as modifier)
go-slow tactics (U.S. and Canadian equivalent)
slowdown
vb
♦
go slow
2 intr to work deliberately slowly as a tactic in industrial conflict
go through
vb intr
1 adv to be approved or accepted
the amendment went through
2 prep to consume; exhaust
we went through our supplies in a day, some men go through a pair of socks in no time
3 prep (Also)
go over to examine and revise as necessary
he went through the figures
4 prep to suffer
she went through tremendous pain
5 prep (Also)
go over to rehearse
let's just go through the details again
6 prep (Also)
go over to clean
she went through the cupboards in the spring-cleaning
7 prep to participate in
she went through the degree ceremony without getting too nervous
8 adv; foll by: with to bring to a successful conclusion, often by persistence
9 prep (of a book) to be published in
that book has gone through three printings this year alone
go to
vb intr, prep
1 to be awarded to
the Nobel prize last year went to a Scot
2 ♦
go to it to tackle a task vigorously
interj
3 Archaic an exclamation expressing surprise, encouragement, etc.
go together
vb intr, adv
1 to be mutually suited; harmonize
the colours go well together
2 Informal (of two people) to have a romantic or sexual relationship
they had been going together for two years
go under
vb intr, mainly adv
1 also prep to sink below (a surface)
3 to be conquered or overwhelmed
the firm went under in the economic crisis
go up
vb intr, mainly adv
1 also prep to move or lead to or as if to a higher place or level; rise; increase
prices are always going up, the curtain goes up at eight o'clock, new buildings are going up all around us
2 to be destroyed
the house went up in flames
3 (Brit) to go or return (to college or university) at the beginning of a term or academic year
go with
vb intr, prep
2 to blend or harmonize
that new wallpaper goes well with the furniture
3 to be a normal part of
three acres of land go with the house
4 to be of the same opinion as
I'm sorry I can't go with you on your new plan
5 (of two people) to associate frequently with (each other)
go without
vb intr
1 (Chiefly Brit) to be denied or deprived of (something, esp. food)
if you don't like your tea you can go without
2 ♦
that goes without saying that is obvious or self-evident
happy-go-lucky
adj carefree or easy-going
have-a-go
adj
Informal (of people attempting arduous or dangerous tasks) brave or spirited
a have-a-go pensioner
Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon
n another name for →
goatsbeard →
1
merry-go-round
n
1 another name for →
roundabout →
1
2 a whirl of activity or events
the merry-go-round of the fashion world
no-go area
n
1 a district in a town that is barricaded off, usually by a paramilitary organization, within which the police, army, etc., can only enter by force
2 an area that is barred to certain individuals, groups, etc.
stop-go
adj (Brit) (of economic policy) characterized by deliberate alternate expansion and contraction of aggregate demand in an effort to curb inflation and eliminate balance of payments deficits, and yet maintain full employment
touch and go
adj touch-and-go when prenominal risky or critical
a touch-and-go situation