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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

go the extra mile en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • (Australia) audio
  • /ˈɡoʊ ði ˈɛk.stɹə ˈmaɪl/ (US)
  • /ˈɡəʊ ði ˈɛk.stɹə ˈmaɪl/ (UK)
  • (US) audio

Etymology

* Possibly from the gospel of Matthew ch.5: v.41 *: "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain."

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To make an extra effort; to do a particularly good job.
    • The National Rail Awards has a proud history of recognising the extraordinary efforts of railwaymen and women who go 'the extra mile' in their day jobs to deliver wider benefits to both the industry and society. 2021 January 27, Paul Stephen, “Inspiration to the next generation”, in RAIL, number 923, page 48:
    • The international community demands that Iran go the extra mile to satisfy concerns over its atomic energy program. 2006 September 7, Tony Karon, “Why Iran Has the Upper Hand in the Nuclear Showdown”, in Time:
    • President Reagan pledged at a news conference today “to go the extra mile” to compromise with Democrats. 1982 April 21, Steven R. Weisman, “Reagan Vows To Go ‘Extra Mile’ to Get Accord on Budget”, in New York Times, retrieved 29 Jul 2012:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
went the extra mile Tense=Past lexicographic
gone the extra mile Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
going the extra mile Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
goes the extra mile Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Deriveds

extra-miler

Relateds

bend over backwards · go out of one's way

Translations (17)

fr se dépasser (make an extra effort) · fr se surpasser (make an extra effort) · cs udělat něco navíc (make an extra effort) · cmn 付出比要求更多的努力 (make an extra effort) · it fare uno sforzo extra (make an extra effort) · es hacer un esfuerzo adicional (make an extra effort) · pt fazer um esforço extra (make an extra effort) · es hacer un esfuerzo extra (make an extra effort) · it fare il possibile (make an extra effort) · fr se mettere en quatte (make an extra effort) · it fare uno sforzo speciale (make an extra effort) · fi kulkea toinenkin virsta (make an extra effort) · it fare uno sforzo in più (make an extra effort) · fr faire plus que le nécessaire (make an extra effort) · it fare di tutto (make an extra effort) · fr faire un effort particulier (make an extra effort) · pt ir a milha extra (make an extra effort)