go at (something)

go at (something)

To engage in or undertake something with great energy, enthusiasm, or vigor. I'd been going at the report for two days straight when my computer suddenly crashed and wiped out half my work! We had only planned to paint one room over the weekend, but we really went at it and wound up painting the whole upstairs instead! Sorry, I can't chat right now. I've got to go at all these emails that piled up while I was on vacation.

See also: go

go at it

1. To engage in or undertake something with great energy, enthusiasm, or vigor. I think you need a break from that assignment—you've been going at it for the last three hours! When John returned to teaching, he went at it with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement. We had only planned to paint one room over the weekend, but we really went at it and wound up painting the whole upstairs instead!

2. slang To engage in sex. I can hear my neighbors going at it almost every night—it's so embarrassing! A: "You haven't gone at it with your new boyfriend?" B: "No. I'm just not ready to put things on that level yet." Yes, I did leave the bar with Brad, but, no, we didn't go at it, thank you very much! We're just friends at this point.

See also: go

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

go at someone or something

to attack someone or something; to move or lunge toward someone or something. The dog went at the visitor and almost bit him. He went at the door and tried to break it down.

See also: go

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

go at

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]

See also: go

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

go at

v.

1. To undertake something or work on something, especially with enthusiasm or drive: She went at the job with a lot of energy. He went at that stain on the table with extra soap.

2. To attack something, especially with energy: My cat suddenly leaped up and went at the squirrel.

See also: go

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.