Purple Level

Lesson One — extended practice with idioms

Go

go / went / gone / going

The verb "go" can be used with many different prepositions and adjectives to form idiomatic verb phrases and expressions. This list provides some examples:

go above and beyond = to try to do better; to do a better job or work harder than is necessary.

1. He went above and beyond his duties at work, so he was quickly promoted.

2. Police officers and soldiers who go above and beyond the call of duty are honored for their service.

go against = to oppose; to go in the opposite direction.

a. Going against the wind is hard when you’re riding a bike.

b. Barack Obama went against John McCain in the last presidential election and won.

go all in = to put all of your resources or money into some kind of effort.

We’ve got to go all in on this project in order to be successful. If we dont go all in, we’re in trouble.

go all out = to work very hard at something to achieve success.

a. She’s going all out to get A’s this semester.

b. Our company went all out to improve its sales record this year, but we came up short.

go as = to dress in a costume and pretend to be a famous character, person, or thing. (This is often done for parties, especially Halloween.)

Question: What are you going as for Halloween?

Answer: I’m going as a pirate.

go at = to attack, physically or verbally.

a. A crazy man went at a police officer with a knife before he was shot.

b. You have to stop going at her all the time when she makes a mistake.

go bad = spoil; become rotten (usually for fruit, vegetables, and meat.

a. We have to eat those apples before they go bad.

b. The chicken smelled like it was going bad, so I threw it out.

go between = mediate a conflict; try to solve a problem between two people.

Hilary Clinton has been going between the Palestinians and the Israelis to solve the conflict between the two groups.

go for = cost

How much is the house down the street going for?

Here’s a video:

 

go for (it) = to do your best.

a. If you want to achieve success, you have to go for it.

b. Question: Are you going to ask Tanya out on a date?

 Answer: Yeah, I think I’m going to go for it.

 

go in on = to share the cost of something.

a. We’re going in on a pizza if you ‘re interested.

b. Tony and Bill are going in on a business together. They’re each contributing $50,000.

 

go into = to find interest in a particular subject; to enter a profession.

a. Namgyal has decided to go into medicine.

b. Susan went into marketing in college and got a job for a retailer.

go on = continue; don’t stop.

a. Marta found it was very difficult to go on after her husband died.

b. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interupt you. What were you saying? Go on.

 

go out = date; to have a romantic relationship.

a. They’ve been going out for a couple of years. They might get married.

b. Hamza wants to go out with Dietra.

 

go out for = to try out for; to prove one’s ability on a team or individual sport.

a. Brett has decided to go out for the football team this year.

b. Are you going out for any sports this year?

go over = to review; to read something important and discuss.

The teacher went over the homework assignment with his students.

We have some important legal documents to go over this weekend.

 

go through = to experience great pain; to suffer from mental or physical problems.

a. She’s been going through a lot lately after her divorce.

b. I don’t want to go through the hassle of moving to a new apartment right now.

go with = to date; to have a serious relationship with someone else.

a. Question: How long has she been going with him?

 Answer: About three months.

b. Matt is going with Sara to the prom.

Go back to Lesson One