going (redirected from goings)

be going begging

if something is going begging, it is available to be taken because no one else wants it. There's a big box of apples going begging.

See also: beg

be going great guns

to be doing something very successfully and quickly. I know he had a little difficulty at the start of the course but he's going great guns now.

See also: great, gun

be going spare (British & Australian)

if something is going spare, you can have it because no one else wants it. 'Do you want some more cheesecake?' 'Yes, if it's going spare.'

See also: spare

be heavy going

1. if something, especially something you read, is heavy going, it is not easy or enjoyable. The first half of the novel is rather heavy going, but don't give up.

2. if someone is heavy going, they are boring. Please don't make me sit next to Dennis at the party. I find him really heavy going.

See also: heavy

the comings and goings

the movements of people arriving at places and leaving places. One of our neighbours is always at her window watching the comings and goings of everyone in the street.

See also: coming

hard going

difficult to do or understand. It was a good course but I found it hard going in parts.

See also: hard

have a lot going for you

to have many good qualities or advantages that will make it easier for you to succeed. She's bound to find a job. She's got such a lot going for her.

See also: lot

not have much going for you

have a lot going for you - to have many good qualities or advantages that will make it easier for you to succeed. Poor thing, she hasn't got much going for her really. She's neither clever nor attractive.

See also: much

have something going with someone (informal, informal)

if you have something going with someone, you are having a sexual relationship with them. She had something going with a guy on the staff. Larry's obviously had a thing going with her for several months now.

See also: something

if the going gets rough/tough

when the going gets rough/tough - when a situation becomes difficult or unpleasant. I'm spending Christmas with my family, but if the going gets tough I might escape back to London.

See also: rough, tough

not know if/whether you are coming or going

to be unable to think clearly and decide what to do because you have so many things to deal with. I had so much to do yesterday that I didn't know whether I was coming or going. The recent changes in the school curriculum mean that most teachers don't know if they're coming or going.

See also: coming, know, whether

like it's going out of fashion (informal)

if you use something like it's going out of fashion, you use large amounts of it very quickly. Emma spends money like it's going out of fashion.

See also: fashion, it's, like

when the going gets rough/tough

when a situation becomes difficult or unpleasant. I run the farm on my own, but a local boy helps me out when the going gets tough.

See also: rough, tough

while the going is good (informal)

if you do something while the going is good, you do it while it is still easy to do. If you are unsure about marrying him, get out now while the going is good.

See also: good

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get (you) going

to cause you to become excited or interested. My Dad was the one who really got me going on baseball.

(still) going strong

to continue to be successful, healthy, or working well. Our club was founded over 100 years ago, and it's still going strong.

Usage notes: usually used after the verb be, as in the example

See also: strong

have a good thing going

to do or have something that is successful. This director has a good thing going with one film nominated for an Oscar and two others earning him a lot of money.

Usage notes: also used in the forms the better thing going or the best thing going: If you have to commute to the city, the train is the best thing going.

on a roll

See also: good, thing

have something going for you/it

to have an advantage. She should be more confident because she has a lot going for her. It seems like you've got a lot of good things going for you.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form have nothing going for you or it: That movie has nothing going for it except some nice scenery.

have nothing going for you/itSee: have something going for you/it

See also: nothing

not know if you are coming or going

to be confused or unable to control something that is happening to you. I am so busy packing everything to move, I don't know if I'm coming or going. It's scary.

See also: coming, know

when the going gets tough

when a situation becomes difficult or unpleasant. I run the farm on my own, but a local boy helps me out when the going gets tough.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form if the going gets tough and sometimes followed by the tough get going or, for a humorous effect, the tough go shopping: When Anna gets upset, she goes out and buys something — you know, when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.

See also: tough