Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

go a long way en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To be adequate or helpful for a significant amount of time.
    • […] and soon every field-mouse was sipping and coughing and choking (for a little mulled ale goes a long way) and wiping his eyes and laughing and forgetting he had ever been cold in all his life. 1908 October, Kenneth Grahame, chapter V, in The Wind in the Willows, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC:
    • Biden Is Hoping Small Changes Go a Long Way on Immigration [title] 2022 September 27, Michael D. Shear, Miriam Jordan, “Biden Is Hoping Small Changes Go a Long Way on Immigration”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
    • “She’s every right to expect a handsome present from me, of course,” she thought, looking vaguely at the leopard on its hind legs, “and I’ve no doubt she does! Money goes a long way with every one. The young are very selfish. […]” 1915, Virginia Woolf, chapter XIV, in The Voyage Out, London: Duckworth & Co., […], →OCLC:
    • Always, always hold her hand / You'll find out, oh just a little love / Goes a long way 1965, “Try a Little Love”, performed by Sam Cooke:
    • This new law will go a long way in addressing this issue.
    • Thank you for your generous donation; I'm sure it will go a long way.
  2. (idiomatic) To achieve considerable success.
    • The moment I met him I knew he would go a long way.
    • All parents hope that their children will go a long way in their lives.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
gone a long way Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
went a long way Tense=Past lexicographic
going a long way Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
goes a long way Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Relateds

go places · go the distance · go long · go all the way

Translations (21)

ru далеко́ пойти́ (achieve considerable success) · cmn 大大有助 (be helpful for a significant amount of time) · pl odnieść sukces (achieve considerable success) · it essere di grande aiuto (be helpful for a significant amount of time) · fr aller loin (achieve considerable success) · it fare molta strada (achieve considerable success) · fr réussir (achieve considerable success) · pl odnosić sukces (achieve considerable success) · fi mennä pitkälle (achieve considerable success) · fi auttaa paljon (be helpful for a significant amount of time) · pl wystarczać (be helpful for a significant amount of time) · es cundir/rendir (mucho) (be helpful for a significant amount of time) · it essere molto utile (be helpful for a significant amount of time) · es dar mucho de sí (be helpful for a significant amount of time) · pl wystarczyć (be helpful for a significant amount of time) · cmn 取得巨大的成功 (achieve considerable success) · fi päästä pitkälle (achieve considerable success) · es dar para mucho (be helpful for a significant amount of time) · fr être d'une grande aide (be helpful for a significant amount of time) · ru дости́чь значи́тельных успе́хов (achieve considerable success) · it raggiungere un grande successo (achieve considerable success)