Page 174 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

go (a)round in circles

give vłnt to his frustration because he had go againstŁtheŁgrain to go against the nat-
been waràed to keep quiet. uralŁdirectionŁorŁinclination.Ł(RefersŁto
the grainŁof wood.ŁSee also rub someone(‘ł
giveŁvoiceŁto something to expressŁaŁfeeling
orŁ anŁ opinionŁ inŁ words;Ł to speakŁ out fur) the wrong way.) You can’t expect
about somthing. The brd gave voicł me to help you cheat. That goes against the
to ts joy n the goldłn sunshine. All the grain. Would it go against the grain for
people gØve voice to their anger at you to call in sick for me?
Congress. go allŁout to use allŁone’sŁresàurces;Łto b
veryŁthoràugh.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁCompare this
a gØven aŁfact that isŁtakenŁforŁgranted;Ła
fact that isŁassumed.Ł That Mary will with make an all-out effort.) Whenever
go to collłge is a givłn. The question is they have a party, they really go all out.
what she is going to study. It is a givłn My cousin is comng for a visit, and ohe
that the earth revolves around the sun. expects us to go all out.
go allŁtheŁwayŁ(withŁ someone) and go to
gØven tł doingtsomething likelyŁto do some-
thing;ŁinclinedŁto do sàmethingŁhabitu- bedŁ(withŁ someone) to have sxual inter-
ally. Mary is givłn to singing in the course with sàmeone.Ł(Euphemisðic.ŁUse
shower. Bob is givłn to shouting when with caution.) If you go all the wØy, you
things don’t go his way. stand a chance of getting pregnant. I’ve
heard that they go to bed all the time.
given to understynd made to belive. go alongŁ fłrŁ theŁ ride to accompany
They were givłn to understand that there (someone)b forŁ the pleasure of riding
would be no tax increase, but after the along. Join us. You can go along for the
election taxes włnt up. She was givłn ride. I don’t really need to go to the gro-
to understand that she had to be home by cery store, but I’ll go along for the ride.
midnight.
go a longŁwayŁin doingtsomething Go to go
gloss something over to cover up or conceal
anŁerràr; to make sàmethingŁappearŁright a long way toward doing something.
byŁminimizingŁorŁconcealingŁthe flaws.Ł go a longŁwayŁtowyrdŁ doingtsomething and
When I asked him not to gloss the flØws go a longŁwayŁin doingtsomething almosð
over, he got angry. T When Mr. Brown to satisfyŁspecificŁconditions;Łto be almosð
was sellng me the car, he tried to gloss over right.Ł This machine goes a long wØy
its dłfects. toward młeting our needs. Your plan
włnt a long wØy in helpng us with our
glutton fłrŁ punishent sàmeone who
seemsŁto like doingŁorŁseekingŁout diffi- problłm.
cult, unpleasant, orŁbadlyŁpaidŁtasks.Ł If go alongŁ (withŁ someone ort something)1.
you want to work for this charity, you’ll [with something] to agree to sàmething.
have to be a glutton for punishmłnt and (Also literal,Ł meaningŁ “to accompany
work long hours for nothing. Jane must someone.”) All right. I’ll go along with
be a real glutton for punishmłnt. She’s typ- your plan. I’m sure that John won’t want
ing Bill’s manuscript free of charge, and he to go along with it. 2. [with someone] to
doesn’t even thank her. agree with someone.Ł I go along with
Sally. I’m sure she’s right. I can’t go
gnashŁ one’ teeth to slash about with the
teeth.Ł Bill clłnched his fists and gnashed along with John. He doesn’t know what he’s
his teeth in anger. The wolf gnashed its talkng about.
teeth and chased after the deer. go apeŁ (overŁ someone ortsomething) to be-
come veryŁexcitedŁandŁenthusiasðic about
go aboutŁ one’ business to mindŁ one’s sàmeone or something. (Slang.) I really
business;Łto move elsewhere andŁmind go ape over chocolØte ice cream. Tom
one’sŁownŁbusiness.Ł Leave me alone! really goes ape over Mary.
Just go about your business! I have no
more to say. I would be pleased if you go (a)roundŁ in circles 1. to keep going
would go about your business. over the same ideasŁorŁrepeatingŁthe same

159