1606. Shakspeare, Macbeth, v., 7. I would the friends we miss were
safe arrived: Some must go off.
1836. C. 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.
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.
1884. Punch, 11 Oct. ‘’Arry at a Political Picnic’ ’Twas regular go
as you please.
To go to Bath, Putney, etc.—See Bath, Blazes, Hell, Halifax, etc.
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.
1872. Evening Standard, 21 June. The roughs would work their will,
and, in their own phrase, go through New York pretty effectually.
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.