go on before (someone)
1. Literally, to move or travel in front of someone or something. Ben will go on before us, and we'll follow him in our car, OK? We went on before Elise because she took so long getting ready, and she met us at the restaurant. You keep hitting me in the ankles, so please go on before me with the stroller!
2. To die before someone else. Grandpa went on before Grandma, although she only lived another six months without him. My husband of 53 years went on before me. How am I supposed to live life without him? As a parent, you never think your child will go on before you, even if they are diagnosed with cancer.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
go on before
(someone) 1. Lit. to precede someone. Please go on before me. I will follow. She went on before.
2. Euph. to die before someone. Uncle Herman went on before Aunt Margaret by a few years. He went before her, although we had all thought it would be the other way around.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.