Page 178 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
P. 178

go (out) on strike


              elØborate pageant was a great success. It  go on a fishingŁexpedition to attempt to
              włnt like clockwork from start to finish.  discoverŁ infàrmation.Ł (Also  literal.)
                                                 We are going to have to go on a fishing ex-
            go off [forŁsàmething]bto explode.Ł   The  pedtion to try to find the facts.    One
              fireworks didà’t go off when they were sup-  lØwyer  włnt  on  a  fishing  expedtion  in
              pooed to.    There was a bomb in the build-  court, and the other lØwyer objected.
              ing, but it didà’t go off.
                                               go on andŁon to (seemŁto)blast orŁgo for-
            go  offŁ hylf-cocked to proceed without  ever.Ł(Folksy.)    You talk too much, Bob.
              properŁ preparation;Ł to  speakŁ (about  You just go on and on.   The road to their
              something)bwithout adequate knowledge.  house is very boring. It goes on and on with
              (InfàrmalŁorŁslang.)     Doà’t pØy any at-  nothing interesting to look at.
              tention to what John says. He’s always go-
              ing  off half-cocked.    Get  your  facts  go on an errynd Go to run an errand.
              straight before you make your presenta-
              tion. There is nothing worse than going off  go on a rampage to have aŁrampage.Ł
              half-cocked.                       The angry bull włnt on a rampage and
                                                 broke the fłnce.    My boss włnt on a ram-
            go offŁon a tyngent to go off suddnly in  page because the report wasn’t finished.
              anotherŁ direction;Ł suddenlyŁ to  chang
              one’sŁline of thought, course of action,  go  on  to  a  betterŁ land to die.Ł(Euphe-
              etc.Ł(AŁreference to geometry.)    Please  misðic.)    After a long illness, Reggie włnt
              stick to one subject and doà’t go off on a  on to a błtter land.    When I finally go on
              tangent.   If Mary would settle down and  to a better land, I hope there is enough
              deal  with  one  subject  she  would  be  all  money for a proper funeral.
              right, but she keeps going off on tangents.  go outŁ(for  something) to try out for some-
            go offŁtheŁdeepŁend  and jump off the  thing.Ł(UsuallyŁrefersŁto attemptingŁto get
              deepŁ end to  becom  deply  involved  onto aŁspàrtsŁteam.ŁAlso literal.)     Mary
              (with someone or something)bbefore one  włnt out for the ooccer Łeam.    Tom włnt
              isŁready; to follow one’sŁemotionsŁinto a  out for baseball.   He didà’t go out last
              situation.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁRefersŁto goingŁinto  year.
              aŁswimmingŁpoolŁat the deepŁend—rather  go outŁofŁfashion and go outŁofŁstyle to
              thanŁthe shallow end—andŁfindingŁone-  become unfashionable; to become obso-
              slf in deep water. AppliesŁespeciallyŁto  lete.Ł   That knd of furniture włnt out of
              fallingŁinŁlove.)    Look at the way Bill is  style years ago.   I hope this knd of thing
              lookng at Sally. I think he’s about to go off  never goes out of fashion.
              the dłep end.    Now, John, I know you
              really want to go to Australia, but don’t go  go outŁofŁ one’ wayŁ(to  do something) 1. to
              jumpng off the dłep end. It isn’t all per-  travelŁanŁindirect ràute inŁorderŁto do
              fect there.                        sàmething.    I’ll have to go out of my wØy
                                                 to give you a ride home.   I’ll give you a
            go on sðopŁsayingŁthose things;Łnot so; I  ride even though I have to go out of my
              dàn’t blieve you.Ł(Also literal,Łmeaning  wØy. 2. to make an effort to do some-
              “to continue.” AlwaysŁasŁaŁcommand.)     thing;Łto endure andŁaccept the botherŁof
              Go on! You doà’t know what you’re talking  dàingŁsàmething.Ł    We went out of our
              abouŁ!    Oh, go on! You’re just trying to  way to please the visitor.   We appreciate
              flØtter me.
                                                 anything you can do, but doà’t go out of
            go on a binge to do too much of som-  your way.
              thing.Ł (Slang.Ł EspeciallyŁ to  drink  too  go outŁofŁstyle Go to go out of fashion.
              much.)   Jane włnt on a bnge last night
              and is very sick this morning.   Bill loves  go (out) on strike [for a group of people]
              to spłnd money on clothes. He’s out on a  to quit workingŁat theirŁjobsŁuntilŁcertain
              bnge  right  now—buying  everything  in  demandsŁare met.Ł   If we doà’t have a
              sight.                             contract by noon tomorrow, wł’ll go out on

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