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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

have a go en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (Australia, UK, informal, intransitive) To make an attempt; to try.
    • I've never tried karate before, but I'm willing to have a go.
  2. (Australia, UK, idiomatic, informal, intransitive) To attack someone physically; to have a fight.
    • I heard you had a go at Jack the other night.
    • 'Yes, me and Marty had a go when he didn't believe me about the girl.' 2008, John Chalmers, The Lady on the Rocks, page 27:
    • But there were occasions when someone or other had a go — when I was going to have a drink from the fountain, for instance, and had to stand on tiptoe at the side to reach the jet of water. Then it was that the clever dogs saw their chance to do something tough atmy expense […] 2004, Lars Saabye Christensen, Kenneth Steven, The Half Brother, page 314:
  3. (Australia, UK, idiomatic, informal, intransitive) To tell off (especially unnecessarily or excessively), to criticise.
    • Except her dad had a go last time, the last time she'd brought home a detention slip for him to sign. 2008, Stella Duffy, Mouths of Babes, page 10:
    • He had a go because I'm on the dole and I had a go back because he deals pills and robs kids. 2016, Luke Barnes, Richard Milward, Ten Storey Love Song:
    • My teacher had a go at me earlier, just for missing one sodding homework. I was fuming.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
has a go Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
had a go Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
had a go Tense=Past lexicographic
having a go Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Deriveds

have-a-go hero

Translations (10)

ru пыта́ться ((intransitive) to make an attempt; to try) · es probar ((intransitive) to make an attempt; to try) · ru песочить ((idiomatic, intransitive) to shout at or tell off unnecessarily or excessively) · tr şansını denemek ((intransitive) to make an attempt; to try) · ru придираться ((idiomatic, intransitive) to shout at or tell off unnecessarily or excessively) · es intentar ((intransitive) to make an attempt; to try) · ru задираться (to attack or criticize) · ru цапаться (to attack or criticize) · pl próbować swoich sił ((intransitive) to make an attempt; to try) · pl próbować szczęścia ((intransitive) to make an attempt; to try)