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Phrase(s): go on (at someone)
to rave at someone. • He must have gone on at her for ten minutes—screaming and waving his arms. • I wish you would stop going on at me., Phrase(s): Go on.
1. Lit. Please continue. • Alice: I guess I should stop here. Tom: No. Don’t stop talking. I’m very interested. Go on. • Bill: Don’t turn here. Go on. It’s the next corner. Bob: Thanks. I didn’t think that was where we should turn. 2. Lit. to happen. • What went on here last night? • The teacher asked what was going on. 3. Fig. That’s silly!; You don’t mean that! (Usually Go on!) • John: Go on! You’re making that up! Bill: I am not. It’s the truth! • Bill: Gee, that looks like a snake there in the path. Bob: Go on! That isn’t a snake. No snake is that big., Phrase(s): go on doing something
Go to go on with something., Phrase(s): go on something
1. Lit. to begin something, such as a diet, rampage, drunk, etc. • I went on a diet for the second time this month. • Fred went on a rampage and broke a window. 2. Fig. to start acting on some information. • We can’t go on this! We need more information before we can act on this matter! • Can you please give us more information to go on?, Phrase(s): go on (and on) (about someone or something)
to talk endlessly about someone or something. • She just went on and on about her new car. • Albert went on about the book for a long time., Phrase(s): Go on (with you)!
Inf. Go away! (Always a command. No tenses.) • It’s time you left. Go on with you! • Go on. Get yourself home.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
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1. Happen, take place, as in What's going on here? [Early 1700s] 2. Continue, as in The show must go on. [Late 1500s] 3. Keep on doing; also, proceed, as in He went on talking, or She may go on to become a partner. [Second half of 1600s] 4. Act, behave, especially badly. For example, Don't go on like that; stop kicking the dog. [Second half of 1700s] 5. Also, go on and on;run on. Talk volubly, chatter, especially tiresomely. For example, How she does go on! The first usage dates from the mid-1800s; run on appeared in Nicholas Udall's Ralph Roister Doister (c. 1553): "Yet your tongue can run on." 6. An interjection expressing disbelief, surprise, or the like, as in Go on, you must be joking! [Late 1800s] 7. Approach; see GOING ON. 8. Use as a starting point or as evidence, as in The investigator doesn't have much to go on in this case. [Mid-1900s] 9. go on something. Begin something, as in go on line, meaning "start to use a computer," or go on a binge, meaning "begin to overdo, especially drink or eat too much."
American Heritage Idioms