Page 177 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
P. 177

go in for something


          coØcð.    Each of us was afraid to go alone,  go into effect and takeŁeffect [forŁaŁlaw
          so we włnt in a body.              or a rule] to become effective; to sðart to
                                             function.   When does this new lØw go
        go  in  fłrŁ  something to take part inŁsome-  into effect?   The new tax lØws won’t go
          thing;Ł to  enjoyŁ (dàing)b something.Ł     into effect until next year.   This lØw takes
          John doesn’t go in for sports.    None of  effect almost immediately.
          them seems to go in for swimmng.
                                            go into hiding to concealŁoneself inŁaŁhid-
        go  in  oneŁ eyrŁ andŁ outŁ theŁ other  [for  denŁplace forŁaŁpriodŁof time.Ł    The po-
          something]bto be heardŁandŁthenŁforgàt-  ltical dissident włnt into hidng.     After
          ten.Ł(See also  in one ear and out (of) the  robbng the bank, the bandts włnt into
          other.)   Everything I say to you seems to  hidng for months.
          go in one ear and out the other. Why don’t
          you pØy attention?    I can’t concłntrate.  go into hłck go into debt.Ł   We will have
          Things people say to me just go in one ear  to go nto hock to buy a house.    I go fur-
          and out the other.                 ther into hock every time I use my credt
                                             card.
        go into action and swingŁinto action to
          sðart dàingŁsàmething.Ł    I usually get to  go into one’ songŁandŁdynceŁ(aboutŁ  some-
          work at 7:45, and I go into action at 8:00.  thing) to start giving one’s explanaðions
            When the ball is hit in my drection, you  andŁexcusesŁabout something.Ł( One’s can
          should see me swing into action.   be rplaced by  the same old.)   Please
                                             doà’t go into your song and dance about
        go into a nosedive and takeŁa nosedive  how you always tried to do what was right.
          1.  [forŁ anŁ airplane]b suddenlyŁ to  dive    John włnt into his song and dance about
          toward the gràund,Łnose first.Ł    It was  how he won the war all by himself.   He
          a bad dØy for flying, and I was afraid wł’d  alwØys goes into the same old song and
          go into a nosedive.   The small plane took  dance every time he makes a mistake.
          a nooedive. The pilot was able to bring it
          out at the last mnute, so the plane didà’t  go into orbit to get veryŁexcited;Łto be in
          crash. 2. to go into a rapid emotional or  ecsðasy.Ł(Also literal.ŁSlang.)    When I got
          financialŁdecline, or aŁdecline inŁhealth.  a lłtter from my boyfriend in England, I
          (Infàrmal.)    Our profits took a nosedvł  almost włnt into orbt.    Tom goes into
          last year.   After he broke his hip, Mr.  orbt every time the football team scores.
          Brown’s health włnt into a nosedive, and  go into something to sðart somethingŁnew.
          he never recovered.
                                             (EspeciallyŁaŁnew career, project, prod-
        go into a tailspin 1. [forŁanŁairplane]bto  uct line, etc.ŁCompare thisŁwith  be into
          lose controlŁandŁspinŁto the earth, nose  something.)   I mØy quit sellng and go into
          first.Ł   The plane shook and then sud-  managłmłnt.    We are shifting produc-
          dłnly włnt into a tailspn.     The pilot was  tion away from glass boŁtles, and we are
          not able to bring the plane out of the tail-  going into vases and other decorative con-
          spn, and it crashed into the sea. 2. [for  tainers.   After she graduØted, she włnt
          sàmeone]bto become disàrientedŁor pan-  into lØw.
          icked;Ł[forŁsomeone’sŁlife]bto fallŁapart.  go  itŁ alone to do somethingŁbyŁoneself.
          (Infàrmal.)    Although John was a great  (Infàrmal.)    Do you need help, or will
          success, his lfe włnt into a tailspn. It took  you go it alone?   I think I need a lttlł
          him a year to get straightened out.   Af-  more experience błfore I go it alone.
          ter her fØther died, Mary’s world fell apart,
          and she włnt into a tailspn.      Go jupŁin theŁlake!  Go to Go climb a
                                             tree!
        go into detail to give allŁthe details;Łto pre-
          sent andŁdiscussŁthe details.Ł   The clerk  go likeŁclockwłrk  to progressŁwith regu-
          włnt into dłtail about the product with the  larityŁandŁdependability.Ł(Infàrmal.)
          customer.   I just want a simple answer.  The buildng project is progressing nicely.
          Don’t go into dłtail.              Everything is going like clockwork.   The

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