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Synonyms

go at

British  

verb

  1. to make an energetic attempt at (something)

  2. to attack vehemently

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"No go at Gatwick for thousands after water outage with loos blocked up and taps all off," reads the Metro's lead story, under the headline "Fly and dry".

From BBC Jul. 26, 2026

British prime ministers come and go at such a dizzying pace that it takes longer for most outsiders to learn their names than it does for them to serve their term.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 20, 2026

Volkswagen's CEO told employees Monday a further 50,000 jobs could go at the struggling auto giant, according to an internal memo seen by AFP, confirming reports the group is targeting 100,000 cuts worldwide.

From Barron's Jul. 13, 2026

When Tracy was let go at the end of the season, the team called it a “mutual parting of ways.”

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 1, 2026

‘We must go at foot-pace, if you guide us; and I doubt not the way is narrow.’

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien

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