4. (theatrical).—To criticise; specifically, to run down. [An extension
of sense 2.] For synonyms, see Run down.
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.
1836. C. 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.
1849. Dickens, David Copperfield, ch. xviii., p. 162. Sometimes I
go in at the butcher madly, and cut my knuckles open against his
face.
1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, iii., 3. Go in for money——Money’s
the article.
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.
1870. Agricultural Jour., Feb. Men who go in for bathing, running,
etc.
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.
1873. Miss Broughton, Nancy, ch. xlv. His cheeks are flushed; he is
laughing loudly, and going in heavily for the champagne.
1883. James Payn, Thicker than Water, ch. xx. This is very nice,
but I do wonder, Mrs. Tidman, that you never go in for curries.
1890. H. D. Traill, ‘A Noble Watchword,’ Sat. Songs, 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).
To go in unto, verb. phr. (Biblical).—To have sexual intercourse with.
For synonyms, see Greens and Ride.
1892. Bible, Gen. xxx. 3. Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her.
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,
bald-headed, strong, etc. Cf., Dash.
1689 (in Arber, Eng. 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.
1821. 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?
1837. R. H. Barham, The Ingoldsby Legends (Ed. 1862), p. 375. For
of this be assured, if you go it too fast, you’ll be ‘dished’ like
Sir Guy.
1846–48. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, vol. I., ch. 26. ‘He’s going it
pretty fast,’ said the clerk.
1849. Dickens, David Copperfield, ch. 6. I say young Copperfield,
you’re going it.
1841. Dow, Sermons, vol. I., p. 176. I would have you understand,
my dear hearers, that I have no objection to some of the sons and
daughters of the earth going it, while they are young, provided
they don’t go it too strong.
1864. Fraser’s Mag., Aug., p. 54. But what if that O, brave heart?
Art thou a labourer? Labour on, Art thou a poet? Go it strong.
1880. Milliken, in Punch’s Almanack Apr. Nobby togs, high jinks,
and lots o’ lotion, That’s the style to go it, I’ve a notion.
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!
1840. Thackeray, Cox’s Diary. Come along this way, ma’am! Go it, ye
cripples!
1854. Thackeray, The Rose and the Ring, p. 92. ‘Go it, old boy!’
cried the impetuous Smith.
1868. Miss Braddon, Trail of the Serpent, bk. I., ch. iii. Three
cheers for red! Go it—go it, red!
1890. Tit Bits, 1 Mar., p. 325. ‘Not for Joe’ ... came from a once
popular song. So did go it, you cripples.
To go out, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To fall into disuse.
1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 113. Pockets, ... to use the flippant
idiom of the day, are going out.
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.).
1861. Thackeray, Lovel the Widwer, 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.
1878. Miss 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.
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.
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.