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

See Examples For:

go the distance

And this one has delivered an epic Final Four of blue bloods who have all proven they can go the distance: France, Spain, England, and Argentina.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 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

“Kurt said that Claire is like Rocky,” she says, referring to the iconic character’s grit and determination to go the distance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 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