English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Alphabetical List of Idioms - G, page 8
from: 'go out of business'
to: 'go viral'
- go out of business
- If a shop, firm or enterprise goes out of business, it closes down or goes bankrupt.
"If the new road bypasses the town, a lot of shops will go out of business."
- If a shop, firm or enterprise goes out of business, it closes down or goes bankrupt.
- go out on a limb
- If you go out on a limb, you put yourself in a precarious or vulnerable position in order to support
someone or something (like climbing a tree and putting yourself in danger by going too far out on a limb or branch).
"Although he knew it could damage his career, the politician went out on a limb and said he supported those protesting against the war."
- If you go out on a limb, you put yourself in a precarious or vulnerable position in order to support
someone or something (like climbing a tree and putting yourself in danger by going too far out on a limb or branch).
- go out on the tiles
- People who go out on the tiles go to bars,
clubs, parties, etc. for some lively evening entertainment
"To celebrate the occasion, we decided to go out on the tiles."
- People who go out on the tiles go to bars,
clubs, parties, etc. for some lively evening entertainment
- go out of your way
- If you go out of your way, you take particular care or make a special effort when doing something.
"Aunt Betty went out of her way to make us feel comfortable."
- If you go out of your way, you take particular care or make a special effort when doing something.
- go out the window
- If a quality, principle or opportunity goes out the window, it disappears, is lost or abandoned.
"When the plant closed down, all hopes of finding a job went out the window."
- If a quality, principle or opportunity goes out the window, it disappears, is lost or abandoned.
- go over your head
- If something said or written goes over your head, you find it too difficult to understand or follow.
“I always found mathematics difficult at school. The teacher’s explanations just went over my head!”
- If something said or written goes over your head, you find it too difficult to understand or follow.
- go over (go down) like a
lead balloon
- If something such as a suggestion or proposal goes over like a lead ballon,
it fails to arouse any interest or enthusiasm, or is totally unsuccessful.
“The management's proposal to change the work schedule went over like a lead balloon.”
- If something such as a suggestion or proposal goes over like a lead ballon,
it fails to arouse any interest or enthusiasm, or is totally unsuccessful.
- go overboard
- If you go overboard, you are over-enthusiastic
about something and do too much or behave in an excessive way.
"We need to prepare the dining room for Christmas, but don't go overboard with the decorations."
- If you go overboard, you are over-enthusiastic
about something and do too much or behave in an excessive way.
- go pear-shaped
- If a plan or project goes pear-shaped, it either goes wrong or
it produces an undesirable result.
"Jane organised a treasure hunt in the park for the kids but it all went pear-shaped and everyone was disappointed."
- If a plan or project goes pear-shaped, it either goes wrong or
it produces an undesirable result.
- go postal
- If someone goes postal, they lose their temper and express their anger in a violent way.
"My parents will go postal when they see the state of the house!"
- If someone goes postal, they lose their temper and express their anger in a violent way.
- go spare
- If you go spare you lose your temper completely.
"Lea's dad would go spare if he knew how much she spent in London!"
- If you go spare you lose your temper completely.
- go to the dogs
- If something goes to the dogs, it deteriorates, becomes much worse
in quality or is less successful than in the past.
"Since the previous chef left, the restaurant has gone to the dogs! The quality has greatly deteriorated."
- If something goes to the dogs, it deteriorates, becomes much worse
in quality or is less successful than in the past.
- go to hell in a handcart
- If something is going to hell in a handcart, it is in a bad state and continues to deteriorate.
"This used to be a nice place to live but now the area is going to hell in a handcart."
- If something is going to hell in a handcart, it is in a bad state and continues to deteriorate.
- go to pieces
- If you go to pieces, for example after a terrible shock, you are so upset or distressed that you experience an emotional breakdown.
"Jack nearly went to pieces when his son died in a car crash."
- If you go to pieces, for example after a terrible shock, you are so upset or distressed that you experience an emotional breakdown.
- go to rack and ruin
- If something goes to rack and ruin, it deteriorates seriously or falls into very bad condition
because of lack of care.
"When the factory closed down, the building went to rack and ruin."
- If something goes to rack and ruin, it deteriorates seriously or falls into very bad condition
because of lack of care.
- go/run to seed
- If something or someone goes or runs to seed, they lack proper care and attention
or fall into a state of neglect or deterioration over time.
"They let the family home go to seed and it’s now so shabby that they can’t sell it."
"The former athlete has sadly run to seed and is now fat and unhealthy."
- If something or someone goes or runs to seed, they lack proper care and attention
or fall into a state of neglect or deterioration over time.
- go through the roof
- If someone goes through the roof, they become very angry.
"My father went through the roof when Paul damaged his new car."
- If someone goes through the roof, they become very angry.
- go (or be put) through the mill
- If you go through the mill, you experience a very difficult period, or are exposed to rough treatment.
"When I was an intern, I was put through the mill. Nothing went unnoticed."
- If you go through the mill, you experience a very difficult period, or are exposed to rough treatment.
- go through the motions
- If someone goes through the motions, they make the most minimal effort to do something
because they have to, but without enthusiasm.
"After his wife died, he tried to continue life as before, but he just went through the motions."
- If someone goes through the motions, they make the most minimal effort to do something
because they have to, but without enthusiasm.
- go out on the town
- When you go out on the town, you have an entertaining or enjoyable time in bars, restaurants, clubs, etc.,
usually to celebrate something.
"We’re going out on the town with a group of friends tonight to celebrate the success of our team!"
- When you go out on the town, you have an entertaining or enjoyable time in bars, restaurants, clubs, etc.,
usually to celebrate something.
- go up in smoke
- If a plan or project goes up in smoke, it is spoiled, fails, or ends before producing a result.
"When Amy and Tom separated, my mother's dream of a romantic wedding went up in smoke."
- If a plan or project goes up in smoke, it is spoiled, fails, or ends before producing a result.
- go viral
- When something such as a video, picture or story goes viral,
it circulates quickly and widely through social media and e-mail.
"The video of the bridge collapsing has now gone viral with millions of views."
- When something such as a video, picture or story goes viral,
it circulates quickly and widely through social media and e-mail.
previous page... next page ...
More Idioms:
alphabetical lists G ...
more alphabetical lists...