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.
1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers (about 1827), p. 377 (ed. 1857).
Wot do you think o’ that for a go?
1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. III., p. 221. I’ve twelve
this go. I did a lagging of seven, and was at the Gib. three out of
it.
1878. Jas. 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.’
1888. Haggard, Mr. Meeson’s Will, ch. x. You have had seven goes
and I have only had six.
6. (American).—A success. To make a go of it = to bring things to a
satisfactory termination.
1888. Harper’s Mag., vol. LXXVII., p. 689. Determination to make
the venture a go.
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!
8. (old.)—A dandy (q.v. for synonyms); a very heavy swell indeed, one
in the extreme of fashion.
1821. Egan, Tom and Jerry [people’s ed.], p. 35. In the parks, Tom
was the go among the goes.
Verb (American political).—1. To vote; to be in favour of. Cf., Go for.