Go Idioms (With Meaning and Examples)

Welcome to our fun guide on idioms that include the word “Go”! Idioms are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say but have a special meaning everyone understands. Even kids can learn these phrases and sound like a pro in English!

Go Idioms

Here are 20 Go idioms in English.

1. Go bananas

Meaning: Get very angry or excited.

Example: She went bananas when she won the game.

2. Go for broke

Meaning: Risk everything.

Example: He went for broke at the poker table.

3. Go the extra mile

Meaning: Do more than expected.

Example: He goes the extra mile to help his friends.

4. Go cold turkey

Meaning: Quit suddenly.

Example: He went cold turkey on sweets.

5. Go down in flames

Meaning: Fail spectacularly.

Example: Their plan went down in flames.

6. Go with the flow

Meaning: Follow what others are doing.

Example: Just go with the flow at the party.

7. Go out on a limb

Meaning: Take a risk.

Example: She went out on a limb to defend him.

8. Go through the motions

Meaning: Do something without enthusiasm.

Example: He’s just going through the motions at work.

9. Go to bat for someone

Meaning: Support someone.

Example: I’ll go to bat for you if they blame you.

10. Go belly up

Meaning: Fail or go bankrupt.

Example: Their business went belly up last year.

11. Go to the dogs

Meaning: Become worse or deteriorate.

Example: This park has gone to the dogs.

12. Go off half-cocked

Meaning: Act without thinking.

Example: He went off half-cocked and made a mess.

13. Go against the grain

Meaning: Oppose the usual way.

Example: She always goes against the grain.

14. Go by the book

Meaning: Follow the rules strictly.

Example: He always goes by the book.

15. Go under the knife

Meaning: Undergo surgery.

Example: She went under the knife yesterday.

16. Go down the rabbit hole

Meaning: Get deeply involved.

Example: He went down the rabbit hole of history.

17. Go for a song

Meaning: Sell cheaply.

Example: That old table went for a song.

18. Go over with a fine-tooth comb

Meaning: Examine in detail.

Example: Go over the contract with a fine-tooth comb.

19. Go haywire

Meaning: Stop functioning correctly.

Example: The plans went haywire.

20. Go out with a bang

Meaning: End dramatically.

Example: She went out with a bang with her farewell speech.

GO Idioms