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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

go the distance

Soderling is now more watchful for signs that an entrepreneur will go the distance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

With a combined knockout ratio of 95%, few expect Saturday's fight to go the distance.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Dec. 10, 2025

There’s something that happens on a pickleball court when points go the distance.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2025

The fastest object ever launched by the human species, it will still take tens of thousands of years to go the distance to the nearest star.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Related Words

• polish off
• terminate