Go. World English Historical Dictionary

Go. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Bibliographic Record Farmer’s Slang & Its Analogues. 1890–1909, rev. 2022. Go subs. (common).—1.  A drink; specifically a quartern of gin. (Formerly a GO-DOWN, but Cf., quot. 1811.

1   [For other combinations see ABROAD; ALL FOURS; ALOFT; AUNT; BABY; BACK ON; BAD; BAIL; BALDHEADED; BATH; BATTER; BEDFORDSHIRE; BEGGAR’S BUSH; BETTER; BLAZES; BLIND; BOARD; BODKIN; BULGE; BUNGAY; BURY; BUST; BY-BY; CALL; CAMP; CHUMP; COLLEGE; CRACKED; DEAD BROKE; DEVIL; DING; DING-DONG; DOCK; DOSS; DRAG; FLOUCH; FLUE; GAMBLE; GLAZE; GLORY; GLOVES; GRAIN; GRASS; GROUND; HAIRYFORDSHIRE; HALL; HALVES; HANG; HELL; HIGH FLY; HIGH TOBY; HOOKS; HOOP; JERICHO; JUMP; KITCHEN; MAN; MAJORITY; MILL; MURPHY; PACE; PIECES; PILE; POT; QUEEN; RAKER; RANGE; ROPE-WALK; SALT RIVER; SHALLOW; SHOP; SLOW; SMASH; SNACKS; SNOOKS; SPOUT; STAR-GAZING; SWEET VIOLETS; TOP; WALKER’S BUS; WEST; WHOLE ANIMAL; WOODBINE; WOOLGATHERING; WRONG.

2   ENGLISH SYNONYMS.—Bender; caulker; coffin nail; common-sewer; cooler; crack; cry; damp; dandy; dash; dew-hank; dewdrop; dodger; drain; dram; facer; falsh; gargle; gasp; go-down; hair of the dog, etc.; Johnny; lip; liquor up; livener; lotion; lounce; modest quencher; muzzler; nail from one’s coffin; night-cap; nip or nipper; nobbler; old crow; a one, a two, or a three; out; peg; pick-me-up; pony; quencher; reviver; rince; sensation; settler; shift; shove in the mouth; slug; small cheque; smile; snifter; something damp; something short; swig; thimbleful; tiddly; top up; tot; warmer; waxer; wet; whitewash; yard.

3   FRENCH SYNONYMS.—Un bourgeron (popular = a nip of brandy); un asticot de cercueil (= a coffin-worm, a play on verre and bière); un coup d’arrosoir (popular: a touch of the watering pot); un gargarisme (popular: = a GARGLE [q.v.]); un galopin (= a PONY [q.v.] of beer; un larme (= a tear); un mistiche (thieves’); un misérable (popular: a glass of spirits costing one sou; une demoiselle = two sous; un monsieur = four sous; un poisson = five sous); un mince de chic (popular: in contempt); une coquille de noix (popular = a thimbleful; a very small GO; a drain); un jeune homme (familiar = in capacity four litres); un Kolback (popular = a small glass of brandy, or large glass of wine); une flûte (familiar); un extravagant (popular = a long drink); un fil (= a drain); un distingué (popular); une douleur (popular = a comforter or PICK-ME-UP); un ballon (popular).

4   ITALIAN SYNONYM.—Schioppa (= a long drink: also a large beer glass).

5   SPANISH SYNONYMS.—Chisguete (colloquial); enjuagadientes (also = a mouthful of water or wine for rinsing the mouth after eating); espolada (= a long drink).

6   PORTUGUESE SYNONYM.—Quebrado (= broken: a small glass).

7   1690.  D’URFEY, Collin’s Walk through London and Westminster, canto 4.        And many more whose quality, Forbids their toping openly, Will privately on good occasion, Take six GO-DOWNS on reputation.

8   1793.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. GO-SHOP. … The Queen’s Head in Duke’s Court.

9   1811.  GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. GO SHOP. The Queen’s Head, in Duke’s court, Bow street, Covent Garden; frequented by the under players: where gin and water was sold in three-halfpenny bowls, called GOES; the gin was called Arrack.

10   1823.  BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v.

11   1835.  DICKENS, Sketches by Boz. The Streets: Night. Chops, kidneys, rabbits, oysters, stout, cigars, and GOES innumerable, are served up amidst a noise and confusion of smoking, running, knife-clattering, and waiter-chattering, perfectly indescribable.

12   1841.  Punch, Vol. I., p. 11, c. 1. Waiter, a GO of Brett’s best alcohol.

13   1841.  THACKERAY, The Great Hoggarty Diamond, ch. ii. Two more chairs, Mary, two more tumblers, two more hot waters, and two more GOES of gin!

14   1850.  F. E. SMEDLEY, Frank Fairlegh, p. 54. Drinking alternate GOES of gin and water with a dustman for the purpose of insinuating myself into the affections of Miss Cinderella Smut, his interesting sister.

15   1853.  Diogenes, vol. II., p. 271. Shall I spend it in theatres? shows? In numerous alcohol GOES?

16   1870.  Figaro, 28 May. Their musical performances are evidently inspired by GOES of gin.

17   1883.  Echo, 7 Feb., p. 4, c. 3. Witness asked him what he had been drinking. He replied, ‘Two half-GOES of rum hot and a half-pint of beer.’

18   2.  (colloquial).—An incident; an occurrence: e.g., a RUM GO = a strange affair, or queer start; a PRETTY GO = a startling business; a CAPITAL GO = a pleasant business.

19   1803.  KENNEY, Raising the Wind, i., 3. Ha! ha! ha! Capital GO! isn’t it?

20   1820.  P. EGAN, Jack Randall’s Diary, p. 10.        Gemmen, (says he,) You all well know,   The joy there is whene’er we meet, It ’s what I call the primest GO,   And, rightly nam’d, ’tis—‘quite a treat.’

21   1835.  DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p. 251. A considerable bustle and shuffling of feet was then heard upon the stage, accompanied by whispers of ‘Here’s a PRETTY GO!—what’s to be done?’

22   1837.  R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends. ‘Misadventures at Margate.’ ‘Oh, Mrs. Jones,’ says I, ‘look here! Ain’t this a PRETTY GO?’

23   1841.  Punch, vol. I., p. 162. Stating his conviction that this was rayther a RUMMY GO.

24   1849.  THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch. lxxiii. Master Frank Clavering … had only time to ejaculate the words, ‘Here’s a JOLLY GO!’ and to disappear sniggering.

25   1869.  E. WOOD, Roland Yorke, ch. xli. ‘I am about to try what a month or two’s absence will do for me.’ ‘And leave us to old Brown?—that will be a NICE GO!’

26   1876.  G. ELIOT, Daniel Deronda, ch. vii. A RUM GO as ever I saw.

27   1880.  G. R. SIMS, Three Brass Balls, Pledge xvi. He … exclaimed, ‘Well, I’m dashed if this isn’t a RUM GO!’

28   1883.  R. L. STEVENSON, Treasure Island, p. 55. A pretty RUM GO if squire ain’t to talk for Doctor Livesey.

29   1891.  N. GOULD, The Double Event, p. 305. ‘It was a NEAR GO,’ said Jack.

30   3.  (common).—The fashion; THE CHEESE (q.v.); the correct thing. Generally in the phrase ALL THE GO.

31   1811.  GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. He is quite the GO, he is quite varment, he is prime, he is bang up.

32   1821.  P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry [ed. 1891], p. 35. Tom was the GO among the GOES.

33   1835.  HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xiv. Whatever is the GO in Europe will soon be the cheese here.

34   1837.  R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (A Lay of St. Nicholas), I., 251.                            It was rather the GO With Pilgrims and Saints in the Second Crusade.

35   1846.  Punch, vol. X., p. 163.        From lowly Queen’s Quadrangle,   Where muffins are the GO.

36   1880.  G. R. SIMS, Ballads of Babylon (Beauty and Beast).        And all day long there’s a big crowd stops   To look at the lady who’s ALL THE GO.

37   4.  (colloquial).—Life; spirit; energy; enterprise; impetus: e.g., PLENTY OF GO = full of spirit and dash. Fr.: avoir du chien.

38   1825.  C. M. WESTMACOTT, The English Spy, i., 178. She’s only fit to carry a dean or a bishop. No GO in her.

39   1865.  G. MACDONALD, Alec Forbes of Howglen, II. xxix. All night Tibbie Dyster had lain awake in her lonely cottage, listening to the quiet heavy GO of the water.

40   1882.  Daily Telegraph, 9 Oct. Mr. Grossmith’s music is bright and tripping, full of humour and GO, as, under such circumstances, music should be!

41   1883.  Illustrated London News, 10 March, p. 242, c. 3. There was any amount of dash and GO in their rowing.

42   1887.  W. A. PATON, Down the Islands, ch. xii. Barbadian may therefore be said to mean a man with GO and grit, energy and [b]m.

43   1889.  The Sportsman, 19 Jan. It all lent a certain zest and GO to the proceedings.

44   1890.  Pall Mall Gazette, 21 Feb., p. 7, c. 1. There was so much heartiness and GO (so to speak) in the work that it reminded me of what I had read about peasant proprietors labouring in Switzerland and elsewhere under a Home Rule Government.

45   5.  (colloquial).—A turn; an attempt; a chance. Cf., NO GO.

46   TO HAVE A GO AT, verb. phr.—to make essay of anything: as a man in a fight, a shot at billiards, and (specifically) a woman.

47   1836.  DICKENS, Pickwick Papers (about 1827), p. 377 (ed. 1857). Wot do you think o’ that for a GO?

48   1877.  W. H. THOMSON, Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iii. 221. I’ve twelve this GO. I did a lagging of seven, and was at the Gib. three out of it.

49   1878.  PAYN, By Proxy, ch. iii. ‘I would practise that in the seclusion of my own apartments,’ observed Pennicuick; ‘and after a few GOES at it, I’ll bet a guinea I’d shake the right stick out first.’

50   1888.  HAGGARD, Mr. Meeson’s Will, ch. x. You have had seven GOES and I have only had six.

51   6.  (American).—A success. TO MAKE A GO OF IT = to bring things to a satisfactory termination.

52   1888.  Harper’s Magazine, vol. LXXVII., p. 689. Determination to make the venture a GO.

53   7.  (gaming).—The last card at cribbage, or the last piece at dominoes. When a player is unable to follow the lead, he calls a GO!

54   8.  (old).—A dandy (q.v. for synonyms); a very heavy swell indeed, one in the extreme of fashion.

55   1821.  P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry [People’s ed.], p. 35. In the parks, Tom was THE GO among the GOES.

56   Verb (American political).—1.  To vote; to be in favour of. Cf., GO FOR.

57   2.  (colloquial).—To succeed; to achieve. Cf., GO DOWN.

58   1866.  Public Opinion, 13 Jan., p. 51, c. 1. His London-street railway scheme didn’t GO.

59   1870.  H. D. TRAILL, Saturday Songs, ‘On the Watch,’ p. 22.        Eh, waddyer say? Don’t it GO? Ho, yes! my right honnerble friend. It’s GO and GO over the left, It’s GO with a hook at the end.

60   3.  (colloquial).—To wager; to risk. Hence to stand treat; to afford.

61   1768.  GOLDSMITH, The Good-Natured Man, Act iii. Men that would GO forty guineas on a game of cribbage.

62   1876.  BESANT and RICE, The Golden Butterfly, Prologue ii. The very dice on the counter with which the bar-keeper used to GO the miners for drinks.

63   1877.  S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Life on the Mississippi, ch. xliii., p. 390. There’s one thing in this world which a person won’t take in pine if he can go walnut; and won’t take in walnut if he can GO mahogany…. That’s a coffin.

64   c. 1882.  Comic Song, ‘The West End Boys,’ verse 3. Another bitter I really can’t GO.

65   1887.  World, 20 April, p. 8. While making up his mind, apparently whether he would GO ‘three’ or ‘Nap.’

66   4.  (racing).—To ride to hounds.

67   1884.  HAWLEY SMART, From Post to Finish, p. 219. There would be far too many there who had seen Gerald Rockingham GO with the York and Ainstey not to at once know that he and Jim Forrest were identical.

68   5.  (colloquial).—To be pregnant.

69   1561–1626.  BACON, (quoted in JOHNSON). Women GO commonly nine months, the cow and ewe about six months.

70   1601.  SHAKESPEARE, Henry VIII., iv. 1. Great bellied women that had not half a week to GO.

71   GO DOWN, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1.  To be accepted, received, or swallowed; to WASH (q.v.).

72   1609.  DEKKER, Lanthorne and Candlelight, in wks. (GROSART), III., 272. For the woorst hors-flesh (so it be cheape) does best GOE DOWNE with him.

73   1659.  MASSINGER, The City Madam, i., 1.        But now I fear it will be spent in poultry; Butcher’s-meat will not GO DOWN.

74   1663.  PEPYS, Diary, 9 Nov. The present clergy will never heartily GO DOWN with the generality of the commons of England.

75   1742.  FIELDING, Joseph Andrews, bk. II., ch. xvii. ‘Oho! you are a pretty traveller,’ cries the host, ‘and not know the Levant. My service to you, master; you must not talk of these things with me! you must not tip us the traveller; it won’t GO here.’

76   1748.  SMOLLETT, Roderick Random, ch. xxi. He … shook his head, and beginning with his usual exclamation said, ‘That won’t GO DOWN with me.’

77   1885.  W. E. NORRIS, Adrian Vidal, ch. vii. In fashion or out of fashion, they always pay and always GO DOWN with the public.

78   2.  (university).—To be under discipline; to be rusticated.

79   1863.  H. KINGSLEY, Austin Elliot, i., 179. How dare you say deuce in my presence! You can GO DOWN, my Lord.

80   3.  (common).—To become bankrupt. Also, TO GO UNDER.

81   1892.  R. L. STEVENSON and L. OSBOURNE, The Wrecker, p. 19. Some one had certainly GONE DOWN.

82   TO GO DUE NORTH, verb. phr. (obsolete).—To go bankrupt. [That is, to go to White-cross Street Prison, once situate in north London]. See QUISBY.

83   TO GO ON THE DUB, verb. phr. (old).—To go house-breaking; to pick locks. See DUB.

84   c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. Going upon the DUB, c. Breaking a House with picklocks.

85   1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

86   1811.  GROSE and CLARKE, Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

87   TO GO TO THE DOGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To go to ruin. [Cf., the Dutch proverb ‘Toe goê, toe de dogs’ = money gone, credit gone too.] See DEMNITION BOW-WOWS.

88   1857.  A. TROLLOPE, The Three Clerks, ch. i. The service, he said, would GO TO THE DOGS, and might do for anything he cared and he did not mind how soon.

89   1863.  H. KINGSLEY, Austin Elliot, 1, 179. ‘Got a second!—bah! The University is going to the ‘——’ Deuce!’ suggested Lord Charles, who was afraid of something worse. ‘DOGS, Sir, DOGS!’

90   c. 1879.  Broadside Ballad, ‘Old Clo’.’ My line of business is played out, it’s GOING TO THE DOGS.

91   TO GO OFF ON THE EAR, verb. phr. (American).—To get angry; to fly into a tantrum. See NAB THE RUST.

92   TO GO FOR, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1.  To attempt; to tackle; to resolve upon; to MAKE FOR (q.v.).

93   1871.  JOHN HAY, ‘Jim Bludso of the Prairie Belle,’ in Pike County Ballads.        He see’d his duty, a dead-sure thing—   And he WENT FOR it thar and then.

94   1890.  Athenæum, 22 March, p. 366, c. 1. The authors have spared neither their creatures nor the reader one iota; whenever an unpleasant effect was obtainable, they straightway seem to have GONE FOR it with unflinching zest.

95   1891.  N. GOULD, The Double Event, p. 221. Some men had GONE FOR half a dozen, others for two or three, and very few for a single.

96   1892.  HUME NISBET, The Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 118. We are strong, my boy, strong now, and are GOING IN FOR the slugging of books also, as well as the immorality of trade.

97   2.  (colloquial).—To attack with violence and directness, whether manually or with the tongue.

98   1871.  Morning Advertiser, 2 Feb., ‘A curtain lecture.’ On … arrival home the derelict husband is to be GONE FOR in the most approved style of the late lamented Mrs. Caudle.

99   1883.  PAYN, Thicker than Water, ch. xxxvii. There were occasions … when Charley could hardly help going for the legs of that lofty philosopher, for higher he could not hit him.

100   1889.  Polytechnic Magazine, 24 Oct., p. 261. He WENT FOR the jam tarts unmercifully.

101   1889.  Star, 24 Aug., p. 4, c. 2. As the enlightened tailor still declined to pay the blackmail one of the anti-machinists WENT FOR him with a chopper.

102   1892.  Tit-Bits, 19 March, p. 424, c. 1. So it comes to much the same thing, with the exception that you cannot indulge in the sad delight of GOING FOR Master Bertie sometimes as you might do were he a member of your own household.

103   1892.  HUME NISBET, The Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 123. “Well mate, GO FOR HIM, and we’ll keep the cops off till you settle his hash.”

104   3.  (colloquial).—To support; to favour; to vote for.

105   4.  (theatrical).—To criticise; specifically, to run down. [An extension of sense 2.] For synonyms, see RUN DOWN.

106   TO GO IN FOR (or AT), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To enter for; to apply oneself to (e.g., TO GO IN FOR honours). Also to devote oneself to (e.g., to pay court); to take up (as a pastime, pursuit, hobby, or principle). Closely allied to GO FOR.

107   1836.  DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, p. 18 (ed. 1857). This advice was very like that which bystanders invariably give to the smallest boy in a street fight; namely, ‘GO IN, and win’: an admirable thing to recommend, if you only know how to do it. Ibid., (1849), David Copperfield, ch. xviii., p. 162. Sometimes I GO IN AT the butcher madly, and cut my knuckles open against his face. Ibid., (1864), Our Mutual Friend, iii., 3. GO IN FOR money, my love. Money’s the article.

108   1869.  WHYTE-MELVILLE, M. or N., p. 31. Long before he had reached his uncle’s house, he had made up his mind to GO IN, as he called it, FOR Miss Bruce, morally confident of winning, yet troubled with certain chilling misgivings, as fearing that this time he had really fallen in love.

109   1870.  Agricultural Journal, Feb. Men who GO IN FOR bathing, running, etc.

110   1872.  BESANT and RICE, My Little Girl (in Once a Week, 14 Dec., p. 508). He had, after a laborious and meritorious career at Aberdeen, GONE IN FOR Scotch mission work in Constantinople.

111   1873.  BROUGHTON, Nancy, ch. xlv. His cheeks are flushed; he is laughing loudly, and GOING IN heavily FOR the champagne.

112   1883.  PAYN, Thicker than Water, ch. xx. This is very nice, but I do wonder, Mrs. Tidman, that you never GO IN FOR curries.

113   1890.  H. D. TRAILL, Saturday Songs, ‘A Noble Watchword,’ p. 58.        To GO IN solid for the cause how noble! (though, ’tis true, We must hope at next election that you’ll GO IN liquid too).

114   TO GO IN UNTO, verb. phr. (Biblical).—To have sexual intercourse with. For synonyms, see GREENS and RIDE.

115   1892.  Bible, Gen. xxx. 3. Behold my maid Bilhah, GO IN UNTO her.

116   TO GO IT, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To act with vigour and daring; to advocate or speak strongly; to live freely. Also to GO IT BLIND, FAST, BALDHEADED, STRONG, etc. Cf., DASH.

117   1689.  H. PITMAN, A Relation (in ARBER, English Garner, vol. VII., p. 365). When these had shared her cargo, they parted company: the French with their shares WENT IT for Petty Guavas, in the Grand Gustaphus.

118   1821.  P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry [People’s ed.], p. 67. Logic, under the domino, had been GOING IT on a few of his friends with much humour. Ibid., p. 22. To GO IT, where’s a place like London?

119   1837.  R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘The Lay of St. Cuthbert’ (ed. 1862), p. 375.        For of this be assured, if you ‘GO IT’ TOO FAST,…         You’ll be ‘dish’d’ like Sir Guy.

120   1841.  E. G. PAIGE (‘Dow, Jr.’), Short Patent Sermons, xcviii. I would, however, have you understand that I have no objection to the sons and daughters of earth GOING IT while they are young, provided they don’t GO IT TOO STRONG.

121   1846–48.  THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, vol. I., ch. 26. ‘He’s GOING IT PRETTY FAST,’ said the clerk.

122   1849.  DICKENS, David Copperfield, ch. 6. I say young Copperfield, you’re GOING IT.

123   1864.  Fraser’s Magazine, Aug., p. 254.        But what of that, O brave Heart?       Art thou a labourer?           Labour           On!       Art thou Poet?           GO IT           STRONG!

124   1880.  MILLIKEN, ‘The Cad’s Calendar,’ April, in Punch’s Almanack.        Nobby togs, high jinks, and lots o’ lotion, That ’s the style to GO IT, I ’ve a notion!

125   Intj. (common).—Keep at it! Keep it up!—a general (sometimes ironical) expression of encouragement. Also GO IT YE GRIPPLES, CRUTCHES ARE CHEAP! (or NEWGATE’S ON FIRE); GO IT, MY TULIP; GO IT MY GAY AND FESTIVE CUSS! (Artemus Ward); or (American) GO IT BOOTS! GO IT RAGS! I’LL HOLD YOUR BONNET! G’LANG! (usually to a man making the pace on foot or horseback.) For similar expressions see MOTHER. Fr., hardi!

126   1840.  THACKERAY, Cox’s Diary. Come along this way, ma’am! GO IT, YE CRIPPLES!

127   1854.  THACKERAY, The Rose and the Ring, p. 92. ‘GO IT, old boy!’ cried the impetuous Smith.

128   1868.  M. E. BRADDON, The Trail of the Serpent, bk. I., ch. iii. Three cheers for red! GO IT—GO IT, red!

129   1890.  Tit-Bits, 1 March, p. 325. ‘Not for Joe’ … came from a once popular song. So did GO IT, YOU CRIPPLES.

130   TO GO OUT, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To fall into disuse.

131   1841.  Punch, vol. I., p. 113. Pockets,… to use the flippant idiom of the day, are GOING OUT.

132   TO GO OVER, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1.  To desert from one side to another; specifically (clerical) to join the Church of Rome; to VERT (q.v.).

133   1861.  THACKERAY, Lovel the Widower, ch. ii. I remember Pye, of Maudlin, just before he WENT OVER, was perpetually in Miss Prior’s back parlour with little books, pictures, medals, etc.

134   1878.  M. E. BRADDON, Open Verdict, ch. vi. Mr. Dulcimer is a horrid person to tell you such stories; and after this, I shouldn’t be at all surprised at his GOING OVER to Rome.

135   2.  (colloquial).—To die; i.e., to GO OVER TO join the majority. Also to GO OFF. TO GO OFF THE HOOKS, TO GO UNDER, TO GO ALOFT, and TO GO UP.

136   1848.  RUXTON, Life in the Far West, p. 4. ‘A sight, marm, this coon’s GONE OVER.’ Ibid., p. 3. Them three’s all GONE UNDER.

137   3.  (thieves’).—To attack, rifle, and rob.

138   1889.  Referee, 2 June. A few who had … GONE OVER the landlord, left him skinned.

139   TO GO OFF, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1.  To take place; to occur.

140   1866.  GASKELL, Wives and Daughters, ch. xiv. The wedding WENT OFF much as such affairs do.

141   2.  (colloquial).—To be disposed of (as goods on sale, or a woman in marriage).

142   1835.  DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p. 208. Miss Malderton was as well known as the lion on the top of Northumberland House, and had an equal chance of GOING OFF.

143   3.  (colloquial).—To deteriorate (as fish by keeping, or a woman with years).

144   1883.  Pall Mall Gazette, 16 April, p. 3, c. 2. Shotover rather WENT OFF in the Autumn, and her Leger preparation was not altogether satisfactory.

145   1892.  Tit-Bits, 17 Sept., p. 422, c. 3. To those … who are apt to GO OFF COLOUR, so to speak, through injudicious indulgence at table.

146   4.  (colloquial).—To die. For synonyms, see ALOFT.

147   1606.  SHAKESPEARE, Macbeth, v. 7. Mal. I would the friends we miss were safe arriv’d. Siw. Some must GO OFF.

148   1836.  DICKENS, Pickwick Papers (about 1827), p. 368 (Ed. 1857). She’s dead, God bless her, and thank him for it!—was seized with a fit and WENT OFF.

149   GO AS YOU PLEASE, adj. phr. (athletics’).—Applied to races where the competitors can run, walk, or rest at will: e.g., in time and distance races. Hence, general freedom of action.

150   1884.  Punch, 11 Oct. ‘’Arry at a Political Picnic.’ ’Twas regular GO AS YOU PLEASE.

151   TO GO TO BATH, PUTNEY, etc.—See BATH, BLAZES, HELL, HALIFAX, etc.

152   TO GO THROUGH, verb. phr. (American).—1.  To rob: i.e., to turn inside out. Hence, to master violently and completely; to make an end of.

153   1872.  Evening Standard, 21 June. The roughs would work their will, and, in their own phrase, GO THROUGH New York pretty effectually.

154   1888.  Baltimore Sun. He was garrotted, and the two robbers WENT THROUGH him before he could reach the spot. Ibid. It was a grand sight to see Farnsworth GO THROUGH him; he did not leave him a single leg to stand upon.

155   2.  (venery).—To possess a woman. For synonyms, see RIDE.

156   TO GO UP (or UNDER), verb. phr. (colloquial).—1.  To go to wreck and ruin; to become bankrupt; to disappear from society. Also, to die. For synonyms, see DEAD-BROKE.

157   1864.  The Index, June. Soon after the blockade, many thought we should GO UP on the salt question.

158   1879.  PAYN, High Spirits (Finding His Level). Poor John Weybridge, Esq., became as friendless as penniless, and eventually WENT UNDER, and was heard of no more.

159   1890.  Pall Mall Gazette, 29 May, p. 5, c. 1. He asks us further to state that the strike is completely at an end, the society having GONE UNDER.

160   2.  (colloquial).—To die: Cf. Ger.: untergehen. For synonyms, see ALOFT.

161   18[?].  Hawkeye, The Iowa Chief, p. 210 (quoted in DE VERE). ‘Poor Hawkeye felt,’ says one of his biographers, ‘that his time had come, and knowing that he must GO UNDER sooner or later, he determined to sell his life dearly.’

162   1849.  RUXTON, Life in the Far West, p. 2. Them three’s all GONE UNDER.

163   1888.  Chicago Daily Inter Ocean, March. All solemnly vowed to see that the mine should be worked solely for the benefit of the girl whether Jim lived or had GONE UNDER.

164   TO GO UP, verb. phr. (American).—To die; specifically to die by the rope.

165   1867.  HEPWORTH DIXON, New America, i., 11. Unruly citizens are summarily hung on a cotton tree, and when any question is asked about them, the answer is briefly given, GONE UP—i.e., gone up the cotton tree, or suspended from one of its branches.

166   TO GO UP FOR, verb. phr. (common).—To enter for (as an examination).

167   1889.  Globe, 12 Oct., p. 1, c. 4. Always, it seems likely, there will be men GOING UP FOR examinations; and every now and again, no doubt, there will be among them a wily ‘Heathen Pass-ee’ like him of whom Mr. Hilton speaks—who had cribs up his sleeve, and notes on his cuff.

168   TO GO WITH, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1.  To agree or harmonise with. See GEE.

169   2.  (colloquial).—To share the sexual embrace. For synonyms, see GREENS and RIDE.

170   ON THE GO, adv. phr. (colloquial).—On the move; restlessly active.

171   NO GO, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Of no use; not to be done; a complete failure. Frequently contracted to N.G.

172   1835.  DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p. 18. I know something about this here family, and my opinion is, it’s NO GO.

173   1853.  Diogenes, vol. II., p. 271.        No, I won’t! I’ll be honest; and so,   Dear master, don’t think of me ill; If I say—as the lists are ‘NO GO’—   You’ve in future no fear for the till!

174   1884.  Notes and Queries, 6 S., x., p. 125. There were on the occasion so many rounds and so many NO GOES.

175   1888.  Puck’s Library, May, p. 12. He thought a moment, and shook his head. It’s NO GO was the dictum.

176   1890.  Punch, 22 Feb., p. 85.        He ’s a long-winded lot, is Buchanan, slops over tremenjous, he do; … But cackle and splutter ain’t swimming; so Robert, my nabs, it ’s NO GO.

177   1892.  J. MCCARTHY, and R. CAMPBELL PRAED, The Ladies’ Gallery, p. 84. She sees it is NO GO with the baronet.

178   A LITTLE BIT ON THE GO, adv. phr. (old).—Slightly inebriated; elevated. For synonyms, see DRINKS and SCREWED.

179   1821.  P. EGAN, Tom and Jerry [Peoples’ ed.], p. 58. The Corinthian had made him A LITTLE BIT ON THE GO.

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