Idioms and Phrases
Go about - to move about
Exm - He should not go about making our affairs public.
Go after - follow; to pursue :
Exm - The policeman went after the thief but the latter managed to escape in the dark of the night.
Go ahead - to start doing something:
Exm- The government went ahead with the reforms despite some serious reservations.
Go at - to attack :
Exm - Suddenly he went at me with a sharp knife.
Go in for - to undertake seriously :
Exm - Have you ever thought of going in for the civil services examination?
Go off - 1.to depart:
Exm - He went off in great dejection.
2.- to explode :
Exm- The gun went off accidentally and she was killed.
Go down - to be accepted :
Exm - This Supreme Court judgment will go down in history as a landmark judgment.
Go over - to examine; to look into :
Exm - The forensic experts are going over the finger prints in order to determine the identity of the murderers.
Go through - to examine from beginning to end :
Exm - I have gone through the files carefully but have not found any useful information.
Go without - to remain without :
Exm - He is so poor that sometimes he has to go without food.
Go out - to be extinct:
Exm - I cannot see anything, the light has gone out.
Go by - 1.to follow :
Exm - I am sorry to disappoint you but we have to go by the rules.
2.- to elapse (used of time) :
Exm - Months have gone by but I have not called upon him.
Hang about -to loiter near a place :
Exm - Last evening I saw your friend hanging about your house.
Hang back - to hesitate to proceed:
Exm - Why are you hanging back? You sing as well as anyone else.
Hang upon - to depend upon :
Exm - The success of any venture hangs upon the seriousness with which it is undertaken.
Hold back - 1.to keep back; to conceal :
Exm - Why did you hold back the information from me?
2.- to restrain :
Exm - Had I not held you back, you would have thrashed him up.
Hold on - to continue one's grasp :
Exm - If you hold on a little longer, things will definitely improve.
Hold out - 1. to endure; to refuse to yield : Exm - How long can you hold out against starvation?
2.- to offer :
Exm - She held out her hand to the Prince.
Hold up - to delay :
Exm - The train was held up on account of an accident.
Hold to - abide by :
Exm - Whatever resistance there might be, I will hold to my decision.
Keep away - to avoid :
Exm - Why did you keep away from the office for a fortnight?
Keep back - to conceal:
Exm - Somehow I got the impression that he was keeping back something vital from me.
Keep off -1. to ward off :
Exm - His stern looks keep off the flatterers.
2.- to remain at a distance :
Exm - You are requested to keep off the grass.