go the distance

Idioms  

1. Carry through a course of action to completion. For example, He said he's willing to go the distance with this project. This expression originated in boxing, where it means “to last for all the rounds that have been scheduled.” In baseball the same term means “to pitch an entire game.” For a synonym, see all the way, def. 1.

---

Example Sentences

After 10 months of speculation about Hearts' capacity to go the distance, we now have our answer.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

Yet this crowded race, which is overstuffed with well-funded candidates equipped to go the distance, might be won with as little as 15% of the primary electorate.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2026

Any serious competitor has to be ready to go the distance.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

That cleared the way for Yamamoto to go the distance, becoming the first Dodgers pitcher to throw consecutive complete games in the playoffs since Orel Hershiser did three straight times in 1988.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 25, 2025

They would need 40,000 years to go the distance to the nearest star.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Related Words

• polish off
• terminate