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• go-by
  go-by

  noun

  a going by without notice; an intentional passing by; snub.
• go by
  go by

  verb

  to pass

go-by

American  

[goh-bahy] / ˈgoʊˌbaɪ /

noun

Informal.

1. a going by without notice; an intentional passing by; snub.

   to give one the go-by.

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go by ¹ British  

verb

1. to pass

   the cars went by

   as the years go by we all get older

   don't let those opportunities go by!

2. (preposition) to be guided by

   in the darkness we could only go by the stars

3. (preposition) to use as a basis for forming an opinion or judgment

   it's wise not to go only by appearances

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go-by ² British  

noun

1. slang a deliberate snub or slight (esp in the phrase give ( a person ) the go-by )

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go by Idioms  

1. Elapse, pass, as in the popular song, “As Time Goes By” (by Herman Hupfeld, 1931), or He just went by our house . [c. 1600]

2. Ignore, fail to notice or take advantage of, as in You shouldn't let this opportunity go by . [Early 1500s] For the related go by the board , see by the board .

3. Rely on, believe, as in I'm going by the numbers on this list , or We'll have to go by what she tells us .

4. go by the name of . Be known by or use a specific name. For example, She continued to go by her maiden name, Mary Smith . [Late 1500s]

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Etymology

Origin of go-by

First recorded in 1605–15; noun use of verb phrase go by

Example Sentences

There have only been isolated cases of enlistment officials really pressuring men to sign up, said Grigory Sverdlin, founder of a group called Go by the Forest that helps men avoid mobilization.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 25, 2023

Initially tentative during their early years at the Whisky A Go Go, by the time the Doors released “Morrison Hotel” in early 1970, Morrison and his bandmates had toured incessantly.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2021

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro This is one of the most unsettling books I’ve ever read.

From The Guardian • May 29, 2019

The nominations include a shortlist for most performed work, with Emeli Sande's Clown, Let Her Go by Passenger and Olly Mur's Troublemaker featuring Flo Rida, competing for the title.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2014

Go by all means, if you like it.

From Out in the Forty-Five Duncan Keith's Vow by Holt, Emily Sarah