going, going, gone

Idioms  

1. No longer available, as in If you want this last doughnut speak up—going, going, gone! This expression, used by auctioneers to indicate the acceptance of a final bid for an item, is occasionally used more loosely, as in the example. It is beloved by baseball announcers when describing a home run as it approaches and clears the outfield wall. [c. 1800]

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Example Sentences

Those dog days of April — when the Philly weather is cold and the wieners are a steal — are going, going, gone.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 29, 2024

Much like a Rhys Hoskins’ at-bat worthy of a bat spike, the tickets were going, going, gone in record time.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 27, 2022

In the minds of MLB and the owners, those first six regular-season games are going, going, gone.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2022

Consider Gonzalez, presumed to be going, going, gone after 2018 because some team would offer him a multiyear contract the Nats would be unwise to match.

From Washington Post • Mar. 14, 2018

The men in the carpet caps get flustered and vicious with tumbling the Lots about, and still the Lots are going, going, gone; still coming on.

From Dombey and Son by Dickens, Charles