go at

British  

verb

1. to make an energetic attempt at (something)

2. to attack vehemently

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go at Idioms  

1. Attack, especially with energy; also, proceed vigorously. For example, The dog went at the postman's legs, or Tom went at the woodpile, chopping away. This idiom is sometimes put as go at it, as in When the audience had settled down, the lecturer went at it with renewed vigor. [First half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

“Whatever the rules are, we’re going to go at it,” May said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Recently I decided to have a go at building some apps.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Plates and napkins should go at the beginning of the line.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

Brown added: "I can see it both ways. When Scholesy explained it to me, it completely made sense. But how I read it was as if he's having a go at him."

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

She could go at a full sprint in high heels, but if she really wanted to come after me she had this thing where she’d kick her shoes off while still going at top speed.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah

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