▸ go for
1 PHRASAL VERB If you go for a particular thing or way of doing something, you choose it. □ [V P n] People tried to persuade him to go for a more gradual reform programme.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you go for someone or something, you like them very much. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] I tend to go for large dark men.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you go for someone, you attack them. □ [V P n] Pantieri went for him, gripping him by the throat.
4 PHRASAL VERB If you say that a statement you have made about one person or thing also goes for another person or thing, you mean that the statement is also true of this other person or thing. □ [V P n] It is illegal to dishonour bookings; that goes for restaurants as well as customers.
5 PHRASAL VERB If something goes for a particular price, it is sold for that amount. □ Some old machines go for as much as 35,000 pounds.
▸ go in PHRASAL VERB If the sun goes in , a cloud comes in front of it and it can no longer be seen. [BRIT ] □ [V P ] The sun went in, and the breeze became cold.
▸ go in for PHRASAL VERB If you go in for a particular activity, you decide to do it as a hobby or interest. □ [V P P n] They go in for tennis and bowls.
▸ go into
1 PHRASAL VERB If you go into something, you describe or examine it fully or in detail. □ [V P n] It was a private conversation and I don't want to go into details about what was said.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you go into something, you decide to do it as your job or career. □ [V P n] Mr Pok has now gone into the tourism business.
3 PHRASAL VERB If an amount of time, effort, or money goes into something, it is spent or used to do it, get it, or make it. □ [V P n] Is there a lot of effort and money going into this sort of research?
▸ go off
1 PHRASAL VERB If you go off someone or something, you stop liking them. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] 'Why have they gone off him now?'—'It could be something he said.' □ [V P n] I started to go off the idea.
2 PHRASAL VERB If an explosive device or a gun goes off , it explodes or fires. □ [V P ] A few minutes later the bomb went off, destroying the vehicle.
3 PHRASAL VERB If an alarm bell goes off , it makes a sudden loud noise. □ [V P ] Then the fire alarm went off. I just grabbed my clothes and ran out.
4 PHRASAL VERB If an electrical device goes off , it stops operating. □ [V P ] As the water came in the windows, all the lights went off.
5 PHRASAL VERB If you say how an organized event went off , you are saying whether everything happened in the way that was planned or hoped. □ [V P adv/prep] The meeting went off all right.
6 PHRASAL VERB Food or drink that has gone off has gone bad. [BRIT ] □ [V P ] Don't eat that! It's mouldy. It's gone off!
▸ go off with
1 PHRASAL VERB If someone goes off with another person, they leave their husband, wife, or lover and have a relationship with that person. □ [V P P n] I suppose Carolyn went off with some man she'd fallen in love with.
2 PHRASAL VERB If someone goes off with something that belongs to another person, they leave and take it with them. □ [V P P n] He's gone off with my passport.
▸ go on
1 PHRASAL VERB If you go on doing something, or go on with an activity, you continue to do it. □ [V P v-ing] Unemployment is likely to go on rising this year. □ [V P + with ] I'm all right here. Go on with your work. □ [V P ] I don't want to leave, but I can't go on.
2 PHRASAL VERB If something is going on , it is happening. □ [V P ] I don't know what's going on.
3 PHRASAL VERB If a process or institution goes on , it continues to happen or exist. □ [V P ] The population failed to understand the necessity for the war to go on.
4 PHRASAL VERB If you say that a period of time goes on , you mean that it passes. □ [V P ] Renewable energy will become progressively more important as time goes on.
5 PHRASAL VERB If you go on to do something, you do it after you have done something else. □ [V P to-inf] Alliss retired from golf in 1969 and went on to become a successful broadcaster.
6 PHRASAL VERB If you go on to a place, you go to it from the place that you have reached. □ [V P prep/adv] He goes on to Holland tomorrow.
7 PHRASAL VERB If you go on , you continue saying something or talking about something. □ [V P ] Meer cleared his throat several times before he went on. □ [V P with quote] 'Go on,' Chee said. 'I'm interested.'
8 PHRASAL VERB If you go on about something, or in British English go on at someone, you continue talking about the same thing, often in an annoying way. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P + about ] Expectations have been raised with the Government going on about choice and market forces. □ [V P + at ] She's always going on at me to have a baby.
9 PHRASAL VERB You say 'Go on' to someone to persuade or encourage them to do something. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P ] Go on, it's fun.
10 PHRASAL VERB If you talk about the information you have to go on , you mean the information you have available to base an opinion or judgment on. □ [V P n] But you have to go on the facts. □ [V P n] There's not much to go on.
11 PHRASAL VERB If an electrical device goes on , it begins operating. □ [V P ] A light went on at seven every evening.