1561–1626. Bacon, (quoted by Dr. Johnson). Women go commonly nine
months, the cow and ewe about six months.
1601. Shakspeare, Henry VIII., iv., 1. Great bellied women that had
not half a week to go.
Go down, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To be accepted, received, or
swallowed; to wash (q.v.).
1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candle-Light, in wks. (Grosart), III.,
272. For the woorst hors-flesh (so it be cheape) does best goe
downe with him.
1659. Massinger, City Madam, i., 1. But now I fear it will be spent
in poultry; Butcher’s-meat will not go down.
1663. Pepys, Diary, 9 Nov. The present clergy will never heartily
go down with the generality of the commons of England.
1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, bk. II., ch. xvii. ‘O ho! you are a
pretty traveller,’ cries the host, ‘and not know the Levant! ...
you must not talk of these things with me, you must not tip us the
traveller—it won’t go here.’
1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xxi. He ... shook his head, and
beginning with his usual exclamation said, ‘That won’t go down with
me.’
1885. W. E. Norris, Adrian Vidal, ch. vii. In fashion or out of
fashion, they always pay and always go down with the public.