english
1
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go up to sth to reach as far as something • The path going up to the back door is very muddy. • This edition's rather out-of-date and only goes up to 1989.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
2
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go back RETURN 1. to return • That restaurant was terrible - I'm never going back there again. • I'll have to go back for my umbrella. • Do you think you'll ever go back to London? • When do you go back to school? • Let's go back to the beginning and start again. • We can always go back to the original plan if necessary.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
3
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go off sb/sth to stop liking or being interested in someone or something • I went off beefburgers after I got food poisoning from a take-away. • I went off Peter when he said those dreadful things about Clare.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go back to sth to start doing something again that you were doing before • It's time to go back to work.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go together BE FOUND 2. to happen or be found together • Wisdom and maturity don't necessarily go together. • Researchers have discovered that short-sightedness and high IQs seem to go together in children.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go along with sth/sb to support an idea, or to agree with someone's opinion • Kate's already agreed, but it's going to be harder persuading Mike to go along with it.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go over sth EXAMINE 1. to examine or look at something in a careful or detailed way • Forensic scientists are going over the victim's flat in a search for clues about the murderer. • Remember to go over your essay checking for grammar and spelling mistakes before you hand it in to me. • I've gone over the problem several times, but I can't think of a solution.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go away LEAVE 1. to leave a place • Go away and leave me alone!
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go on AGREE 8. informal something that you say in order to agree to do or allow something that you did not want to do or to allow before • "Are you sure you don't want another slice of cake?" "Oh go on then , but just a small one."
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go down on sb slang to use the tongue and lips to touch someone's sexual organs in order to give pleasure
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go down LOSE 5. to lose or be defeated • England's unbeaten run of ten games ended last night when they went down 4-2 to France. • Dictators rarely go down without a fight.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go through with sth to do something unpleasant or difficult that has already been agreed or promised • He'd threatened to divorce her but I never thought he'd go through with it. • The company has decided not to go through with the takeover of its smaller rival.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go through sth EXPERIENCE 1. to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation • I've been going through a bad patch recently. • You'd think his children would be more sympathetic towards him after all he's gone through (= the many bad things he has experienced).
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go in BECOME HIDDEN 2. If the sun goes in, it becomes hidden from view by clouds.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go on TALK A LOT 6. UK to talk in an annoying way about something for a long time • I just wish he'd stop going on about how brilliant his daughter is." "Yes, he does go on (a bit) , doesn't he?" • I wish you'd stop going on at (= criticizing repeatedly) me about my haircut.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go up RISE 1. to move higher, rise or increase • The average cost of a new house has gone up by 5% to £276 500.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go out RELATIONSHIP 2. to have a romantic and usually sexual relationship with someone • How long have you been going out with him? • They'd been going out (together/with each other) for almost five years before he moved in with her.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go through sth USE 4. to use a lot of something • Before I gave up smoking I was going through 40 cigarettes a day. • I went through a hundred quid on my last trip to London.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go after sth informal to try to get something • Are you planning to go after Paul's job when he leaves?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go round UK ( US go around ) BEHAVE BADLY 3. to spend your time behaving in the stated way • [ + -ing verb] : You can't go round being rude to people.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go over to sth 1. to change to something new or to a new way of doing things • Many motorists are going over from leaded to unleaded fuel. • She went over (= changed her support) to the Democrats at the last election.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go away LEAVE 2. to leave your home in order to spend time somewhere else, usually for a holiday • We usually go away for the summer. • He goes away on business a lot.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go on TALK AGAIN 5. informal something that you say to encourage someone to say or do something • Go on, what happened next?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go out LIGHT/FIRE 4. If a light or something that is burning goes out, it stops producing light or heat. • When I woke up the fire had gone out.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go down (sth) MOVE DOWN 1. to move down to a lower level or place • He went down on his knees and begged for forgiveness. • He first went down the mines when he was 17. • The plane went down (= fell to the ground because of an accident, bomb, etc.) ten minutes after takeoff. • Everyone took to the lifeboats when the ship started to go down (= sink). • Could I have a glass of water to help these pills go down (= to help me swallow them) ?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go around US for go round
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go back to sb to start a relationship again with a person you had a romantic relationship with in the past • I hear he's ended the affair and gone back to his wife.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go under SINK 1. to sink • The ship went under just minutes after the last passenger had been rescued.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go in ENTER 1. to enter a place • I looked through the window, but I didn't actually go in.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go over sth STUDY 2. to study or explain something • I always go over my revision notes just before I go into an exam. • Could you go over the main points of your argument again, Professor?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go over to sth 2. to change to another broadcaster or place of broadcast • We're now going over to Kate Adie speaking live from Baghdad. • Later in this bulletin we will be going over to our Westminster studio for an update on the situation.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go off LEAVE 6. to leave a place and go somewhere else • She's gone off to the pub with Tony
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go down COMPUTER 7. If a computer system goes down, it stops working • The battery should prevent the computer system from going down in the event of a power cut.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go through If a law, plan or deal goes through, it is officially accepted or approved. • A council spokeswoman said that the proposals for the new shopping centre were unlikely to go through.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go ahead 1. to start to do something • We've received permission to go ahead with the music festival in spite of opposition from local residents. • I got so fed up with waiting for him to do it that I just went ahead and did it myself.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
36
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go out to sb If your thoughts or sympathies go out to someone in a difficult or sad situation, you think of them and feel sorry for them • Our deepest sympathies go out to her husband and children.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go back ORIGIN 3. to have existed since a time in the past • Their relationship goes back to when they were at university together. • Our house goes back to (= has existed since) the 18th century.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go round UK ( US go around ) BE ENOUGH 2. If there is enough of something to go round, there is enough for everyone in a group of people • Are there enough pencils to go round?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go without (sth) to not have something or to manage to live despite not having something • If you don't want fish for dinner, then you'll just have to go without! • I'd rather go without food than work for him.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go out SEA 3. If the tide goes out, it moves back and covers less of the beach.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go off BECOME WORSE 8. UK to become worse in quality • That paper's really gone off since they got that new editor.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go round sth UK ( US go around ) to travel to all, or the main, parts of a place that you are visiting in order to find out what it is like or to learn about it • For a few weeks in the summer, visitors are able to go round Buckingham Palace.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go down SUN 1. When the sun goes down, it moves down in the sky until it cannot be seen any more • On summer evenings we would sit on the verandah and watch the sun go down.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go about sth to begin to do something or deal with something • What's the best way of going about this? • [ + -ing verb ]: How can we go about solving this problem?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go on TIME 9. to continue or pass • Tomorrow will start cold but it should get warmer as the day goes on. • As the evening went on it became clear that we should never have agreed to see each other again.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go on sth to use a piece of information in order to help you discover or understand something • I'm only going on what I overheard him saying to Chris, but I think he's planning to leave next month. • The investigation has only just started so the police haven't got much to go on at the moment.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go together RELATIONSHIP 3. informal If two people are going together, they have a romantic or sexual relationship with each other.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go up BE FIXED 3. If a sign goes up, it is fixed into position • The new 'No Parking' signs went up yesterday.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go down (sth) REACH 2. to reach or go as far as • Its roots can go down three metres. • This path goes down to the river. • Go down to (= Read as far as) the bottom of the page.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go into sth START 1. to start doing a particular type of work • My son's planning to go into journalism. • She's decided to go into business as a freelance computer programmer.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go into sth START 2. to start an activity, or start to be in a particular state or condition • The drug is still being tested and will not go into commercial production for at least two years. • How many companies have gone into liquidation/receivership during the current recession? • Repeated death threats have forced them to go into hiding. • Her baby was born three hours after she went into labour. • Some of the fans seemed to go into a trance when she appeared on stage.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go by 1. to move past, in space or time • You can watch the trains going by from this window. • You can't let an opportunity like that go by - it's too good to miss. • Hardly a day goes by when I don't think about her.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go down with sth ( also come down with sth ) UK to start to suffer from an infectious disease • Half of Martha's class has gone down with flu.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go off with sb to leave a wife, husband or partner in order to have a sexual or romantic relationship with someone else • Did you know that Hugh had gone off with his sister-in-law?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go down BE REDUCED 2. to be reduced in price, value, amount, quality, level or size • The temperature went down to minus ten last night. • The company's shares went down 7p to 53p. • The swelling's gone down but there's still a lot of bruising. • He went down in my estimation when he started trying to be a singer as well as an actor.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go for sth MONEY 4. If something goes for a certain amount of money, it is sold for that amount • The painting is expected to go for at least a million dollars.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go out LEAVE 1. to leave a room or building, especially in order to do something for entertainment • Please close the door as you go out. • Do you fancy going out for a meal after work? • It's terribly smoky in here - I'm just going out for a breath of fresh air. • [ + -ing verb ]: I wish you'd spend more time at home instead of going out drinking with your friends every night.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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verb travel: We will go by bus. verb depart: Go before I get mad. verb work properly: The car won't go. verb is located: The fork goes on the left. verb fit: Will the bike go into the box? verb intent: I am going to learn how to swim. verb allotted: How much money goes for rent? verb be eliminated: Luxuries have to go. verb fail: His hearing began to go. verb will happen: What ever he says goes.
Simple Definitions
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go for sth TRY 3. to try to have or achieve something • She tripped me as I went for the ball. • Are you planning to go for that scholarship to Harvard University? • The Russian relay team will again be going for the gold medal at the Olympic Games.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go down HAPPEN 8. US slang If an event such as a crime or a deal goes down, it happens • I tried to tell Tyrell what was going down, but he wouldn't listen.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go over US for go down (BE RECEIVED)
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go up BUILD 4. If a building goes up, it is built • A new factory is going up on the old airport.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go round UK ( US go around ) SPIN 1. to spin like a wheel
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go down PRISON 6. UK slang to be put in prison • She went down for three years for her part in the robbery.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go off NOISE 5. If a warning device goes off, it starts to ring loudly or make a loud noise • The alarm should go off automatically as soon as smoke is detected. • Didn't you hear your alarm clock going off this morning?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go into sth HIT 5. If a vehicle goes into something such as a tree or a wall, it hits it • Their car was travelling at 50 miles an hour when it went into the tree.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go back 2. to be returned • When are these library books due to go back ? • That TV will have to go back to the shop - it hasn't worked properly ever since I bought it.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go for sth LIKE 2. to like or admire • I don't go for war films in a big way (= very much). • What sort of men do you go for (= are you attracted to) ?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go with sb informal to have a romantic or sexual relationship with someone • Did he ever go with anyone else while they were living together?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go up EXPLODE 2. to suddenly explode • There's a gas leak and the whole building could go up at any moment.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go down BE RECEIVED 4. to be received in a particular way • I think my speech went down rather well , don't you?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go after sb to chase or follow someone in order to catch them • The police went after him but he got away.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go round (somewhere) UK ( US go around (somewhere) ) to go or be given from one person to another, or to move from one place to another • A nasty flu bug's going round (the school) at the moment.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go on CONTINUE 2. to continue or move to the next thing • Please go on with what you're doing and don't let us interrupt you. • [ + -ing verb ]: We really can't go on living like this - we'll have to find a bigger house. • [ + to infinitive ]: She admitted her company's responsibility for the disaster and went on to explain how compensation would be paid to the victims. • What proportion of people who are HIV-positive go on to develop (= later develop) AIDS? • If you go on (= continue behaving) like this you won't have any friends left at all.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go on OPERATE 3. to start operating • The spotlights go on automatically when an intruder is detected in the garden. • When does the heating go on?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go ahead 3. If an event goes ahead, it happens • The festival is now going ahead as planned.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go on PLEASE DO 7. used when encouraging or asking someone to do something • Go on, have another drink. • "I don't really feel like seeing a film tonight." "Oh go on. We haven't been to the cinema for ages."
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go ahead 2. informal said to someone in order to give them permission to start to do something • "Could I ask you a rather personal question?" "Sure, go ahead."
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go off EXPLODE 3. If a gun goes off, it fires • His gun went off accidentally.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go down BE REMEMBERED 3. to be remembered or recorded in a particular way • Hurricane Katrina will go down in the record books as the costliest storm ever faced by insurers.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go with sth SUIT 1. If one thing goes with another, they suit each other or they look or taste good together • This wine goes particularly well with seafood. • I'm not sure that this hat really goes with this dress.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go into sth DISCUSS 3. to discuss, examine, describe or explain something in a detailed or careful way • This is the first book to go into her personal life as well as her work. • I'd rather not go into that now. Can we discuss it later? • I'm unable to go into detail(s) at this stage because I still have very little information about how the accident happened.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go off HAPPEN 7. to happen in a particular way • The protest march went off peacefully.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go on HAPPEN 1. to happen • I'm sure we never hear about a lot of what goes on in government. • This war has been going on for years.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go by sth BASE 2. to base an opinion, decision or judgment on something • What do you go by when you're deciding whether or not to employ someone? • Going by what she said yesterday, I would say she's about to resign. • If past experience is anything to go by, he'll completely ignore our suggestions and then change his mind at the last minute.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go through sth EXAMINE 2. to examine something which contains a collection of things carefully in order to organize them or find something • I'm going through my wardrobe and throwing out all the clothes I don't wear any more. • Remember to go through the pockets before you put those trousers in the washing machine.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go to sb to be given or sold to someone • Who did the award for Best Actress go to? • All the money raised will go to charity. • The painting went to the highest bidder.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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verb happen ADV. smoothly, well Everything went very smoothly. | badly pass ADV. quickly, slowly The holiday went very quickly. | by The days seemed to go by very slowly. look/taste good with sth ADV. well | together Leeks and potatoes go well together in a soup. PREP. with That tie goes well with that shirt. PHRASAL VERBS go down ADV. badly, well PREP. with The novel went down well with the public. go on ADV. endlessly PREP. about He goes on endlessly about his health problems. | at Stop going on at me about that money. | with We'll go on with the presentations after lunch. PHRASES go on and on The journey just seemed to go on and on.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
89
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go in for sth ENJOY 1. to do something regularly, or to enjoy something • I've never really gone in for classical music, but I love jazz.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go by sth FOLLOW 1. to follow something or be shown the way by something • I'm sorry, madam, but we have to go by the rules.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
91
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go for sb to attack someone • Their dog had to be put to sleep after it went for the postwoman.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
92
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go against sth/sb to oppose or disagree with something or someone • Public opinion is going against the government on this issue. • What you're asking me to do goes against everything I believe in.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
93
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go against sb If a decision or vote goes against someone, they do not get the result that they needed • The judge's decision went against us. • The vote went against her (= She lost the vote).
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
94
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go round UK ( US go around ) VISIT 4. to visit someone in their home • I'm just going round to Martha's for half an hour. • Why didn't you tell me Perry had been round?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go for sth CHOOSE 1. to choose something • Instead of butter, I always go for margarine or a low-fat spread.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
96
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go off FOOD 4. UK If food or drink goes off, it is not good to eat or drink any more because it is too old • This bacon smells a bit funny - do you think it's gone off?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
97
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go in BE UNDERSTOOD 3. mainly UK informal If a fact or piece of information goes in, you understand it or remember it • No matter how many times you tell him something, it never seems to go in.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go along PLACE 1. UK to go to a place or event, usually without much planning • I might go along to the party later.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go off with sth to take something without getting permission from the owner first • I do wish you'd stop going off with my car without asking me beforehand.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
100
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go out SPORT 5. UK to lose when you are playing in a sports competition, so that you must stop playing in the competition • England went out to France in the second round of the championship.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
101
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go at sb to attack someone • Suddenly, he went at me with a knife.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
102
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In addition to the idioms beginning with GO, GOES, and GOING, Also see ALL OUT, GO; ALL SYSTEMS GO; ANYTHING GOES; AS FAR AS THAT GOES; BESTLAID PLANS GO ASTRAY; COLD TURKEY, GO; COME AND GO; COMING AND GOING; COMING OR GOING; COMINGS AND GOINGS; DOWN THE DRAIN, GO; DUTCH TREAT (GO DUTCH); EASY COME, EASY GO; FROM THE WORD GO; GET A MOVE ON (GOING); GET GOING; HAVE A CRACK (GO) AT; HAVE A GOOD THING GOING; HAVE GOING FOR; HEART GOES OUT TO; HEAVY GOING; HERE GOES; HERE SOMEONE GOES AGAIN; LET GO; MAKE A GO OF; NO DEAL (NO GO); ON THE GO; OUT THE WINDOW, GO; PAY AS YOU GO; RARING TO GO; SHOW MUST GO ON; TAKE (GO INTO) EFFECT; TOUCH AND GO; WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND; WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE. Also see under GONE.
American Heritage Idioms
103
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go through sth PRACTISE 3. to do something in order to practise or as a test • I'd like you to go through that manoeuvre again and then bring the car to a halt.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
104
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go off STOP WORKING 1. If a light or a machine goes off, it stops working • The lights went off in several villages because of the storm.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
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go under FAIL 2. If a company goes under, it fails financially • The charity will go under unless a generous donor can be found within the next few months.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
106
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go in for sth COMPETE 2. to take part in a competition • Are you planning to go in for the 100 metres race?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
107
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go together LOOK GOOD 1. to look good together • Do you think the cream dress and the blue jacket go together?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
108
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go at sth informal to start doing something with a lot of energy and enthusiasm • He went at (= ate eagerly) his dinner as if he hadn't had anything to eat for weeks.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
109
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go with sth RESULT 2. If a problem, activity or quality goes with another one, they often happen or exist together and the first thing is often caused by the second • [ + -ing verb ]: What are the main health problems that go with smoking ?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
110
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go away DISAPPEAR 3. to disappear • It was weeks before the bruises went away.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
111
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go back on sth to fail to keep a promise, or to change a decision or agreement • The government looks likely to go back on its decision to close the mines. • She's gone back on her word and decided not to give me the job after all.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
112
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go with sb/sth informal to accept an idea or agree with a person • I think we can go with the advertising agency's suggestions, don't you?
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
113
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go off EXPLODE 2. If a bomb goes off, it explodes • The bomb went off at midday.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
114
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go on TALK AGAIN 4. to start talking again after a pause • She paused to light another cigarette and then went on with her account of the accident. • [ + speech ]: "What I want more than anything else, " he went on, "is a house in the country with a large garden for the children to play in."
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
115
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go into sth BE USED 4. mainly UK If time, money or effort goes into a product or activity, it is used when producing or doing it • A considerable amount of time and effort has gone into this exhibition.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs