Useful English Expressions with “Go” for Everyday Speaking [588]

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In this episode, you’ll learn how “go” is used in natural everyday phrases to talk about plans, progress, changes, choices, and situations. These expressions are useful because they help you understand real spoken English and give you more natural ways to express simple ideas.

The lesson focuses on clear meaning and practical examples, so you can recognise these phrases when you hear them and use them more confidently when you speak.

After listening, you’ll be able to:

• understand common expressions with “go” more easily
 • use “go” in a more natural way
 • improve your everyday speaking vocabulary
 • sound less basic when explaining situations and plans

If you want to speak more naturally and understand everyday English better, this episode will help.

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Transcript

Speaker: 0:09

Hi there. This is Harry. Welcome back to Advanced English to help you to get a better language, to help you with your business, English skills, goals are, we're here to help. And for those of you and your to one lessons, well, you know Just get in touch www.englishlessonviaskype.com and you can apply for a free trial lesson. And we'd be very happy to hear from you and very happy to help you. Okay, so let's get back to our And our lesson today, as I said, using expressions with a very So I can say simply to you, Meaning let's get started. Or when the kids go to school, Okay, so it's a very, very for different expressions. So I've got a list of fourteen So let's get started. Number one to get going. Yeah. To get going. So we can use this in lots of You know, you've finished your leisurely cup of coffee, perhaps table with the family. And you look at your watch go, oh, I better get going means I have to be in work in half an hour. Or the kids are, you know, you say, okay, let's get going. So we want to get on the road, get in the car, get you to school and get me to work on time. Or you can even ask somebody the need to get going? So if somebody said, oh, look, I to go and catch the train or the and say, well, you know, it's, the bus station or ten minutes So do you think you should get question format to get going? Number two to go begging. This is quite an unusual have come across. When somebody begs, they are asking something for somebody from somebody. Okay. So for example, if you're walking along the street and you see somebody begging in the street, they are looking for some money, some assistance, some help. Okay. But when we say go begging, we way, I'm not going to go begging If they think I'm worth working in this company, then they should offer the salary increase to me. No, I'm not going to go begging. So we use it sometimes when emotional or perhaps a little We've been on the same salary the boss keeps telling us the the salaries, or you have to do know, there's no inflation. Whatever the the reason is, they tell you that, no, sorry, we can't give you a salary increase. And of course, you go home and you complain to your partner that, oh, this place is terrible. This is the second or the third year that I haven't received my salary increase. And your partner says, well, why And then you say, well, I'm not If they want to keep me and they and a loyal company employee, So when we say I won't go it's up to somebody else to Yeah. Okay. Or you might even say to know, so perhaps you're looking your girlfriend to cook the you say, oh, come on, do I have to you to cook the food. Okay. So we can use it in a slightly Okay, so to go begging. But we can also use go begging Okay, so for example, if situation that didn't turn out what about the promotion? Did it happen? Now that's gone begging, meaning It's not going to happen. Okay, so now number three, and use when we want to say to say how they are. We just say, oh, how's it going? So it's a very general, open, warm, informal slang way to greet somebody. So when somebody says to you, Oh, hi, how are you? Or oh, hi, how's it going? Yeah. Or simply you come into the room pick it up, and somebody on the this is David. Oh, hi, David. How's it going? So it's just a general way, a nice way, a pleasant way to greet somebody without being too formal. How's it going? Number four. There you go. Well, when we use this expression, it's usually when something is finished or we've delivered something or we've done something that somebody asks for. So let me give you a couple of There you go. So if your children are asking laptop, maybe the internet something is stuck, or, you So you come along and you you picture and then you say, okay, It's fixed. So just a easy way to tell them that everything is back to normal. Or if they're asking you, can dad or mom? And you sit down with them and you say, well, tell me, what's the problem? So they explain to you the Or perhaps it's a scientific question, whatever it happens to be. And you ask them certain questions and you get them to understand it. And then when they have the well, there you go. You've got the answer. So it's a nice and pleasant, tell somebody that's fixed. That's okay. You've got the information you your homework, or you can finish There you go. Or, for example, the you get an answer from somebody that, you know, perhaps you had expected and you're talking to your partner and say, oh, well, there you go. That's exactly the answer I I didn't think they were going I didn't think they were going There you go. That's just these companies are So perhaps you had bought something in the shop, let's say a new mobile phone or some other electronic gadget, and the guarantee runs out after twelve months. And after fourteen months, you have a problem with this telephone or the gadget you bought. And you say to your partner, going back to the shop. The guarantee ran out two months They're probably just going to tell me it's not going to to to work. You have to pay to get it fixed. So you go along to the shop. You present the situation to the He checks it up on the system. He says, well, the guarantee ran out two months ago, so I'm afraid, sir, there's nothing we can do. Okay, so you take the mobile to your partner, say, well, That's what I said. They just won't help. If I need to get this repaired, repair shop and I'm going to So. So there you go as a way of That's exactly what I thought Now number five, this Go for it is one of those really where we put the stress on the Go for it. Yeah. So and when we use that We mean. Yeah. Go on, go on. You can do it. Yeah. So your kids are saying that football team or basketball team they want to join. And you say, yeah, go for it. I mean, you you need to be You need to be involved with It's a great way of making new So yeah, go for it. Or one of the older children, job and they're not quite sure. Is it suitable for them with the And he said, well, look, you can The worst they can say is no. You know, when somebody says, And I ask them, well, what's the The worst that can happen is you're no worse off. You're no better off. Okay. But at least you know. So yeah, why don't you just go Yeah. Okay. So when we use that expression, It's really put the intonation, the the emphasis on the first word. So show. Yeah. Real determination. Yeah. Why don't you? You've got the qualifications, got the personality, whatever these qualities, then yeah, just What's the worst that can Somebody will say no. But if somebody says no, believe me that's not the worst that can happen. So go for it. Yeah. Okay. Number six, when something will things can go bad and go sour. Well, the most obvious is food. Yeah, the food will go bad if or after even a few days in the Milk will go sour if you leave Then when you come to pick up smell, a sour smell. So food and food products, dairy products will go bad or go sour very quickly, depending on how long you leave them and how many days you leave them, or indeed where you. You leave them, but other things Relationships can go sour. This relationship just went It went bad. You know, we just are not We've got different goals, Now we'll stay friends, but we're not going to be boyfriend girlfriend. So the relationship has gone The relationship between employee and employer can go sour. The relationship with customers or clients can go bad or sour depending on something that happens. Something not delivered, All of these little issues that different than it previously was Now, the next one, number seven, to go deaf or to go bald. So all with the verb to go, not literally, but something can So. Oh, I'm going to go mad if So perhaps your neighbor is doing those repairs that you don't like. And, you know, every half an hour you get the bang, bang, bang, knock knock knock, all the noise that's happening during the day. So oh, God, I wish that noise I'm going to go mad. Yeah. So means I'm going to go a Not literally, but you'll feel So to go mad when you go bald, And you know, you're combing hair come out. Or the worst is when you go to hairdressers and he's standing Harry, I'm afraid to tell you there's a little bit of a bald patch here. You're going bald. So you notice these things that whenever it happens. And you you go bald and you can And also you can go deaf. Unfortunately, as we get a little bit older, we don't hear so well. So when you have to keep asking What was that? And your partner would say, Are you going deaf? Yeah. So. Yeah, well, it happens It happens because we just don't Maybe we are focusing on something else so we don't really hear what somebody's saying. So we're not literally going deaf, but we say, well what was that? And somebody says, what's wrong Are you going deaf? Yeah. Or we'll say, don't listen to such loud music because you'll go deaf. So if you're sitting with your really, really loud, you have to damage your your ears with that. So you could go deaf. So when we go deaf, it means we used to hear. So it can be very literal, of And as we get older, it does And older people start wearing hearing implants or something that will make the hearing a little better. Or indeed, we can use it as an excuse when we don't hear somebody, because we haven't been focusing on what they've been saying to us and we haven't been listening. Listening as intently as we Okay, so to go deaf. So to go bald. Go deaf and go mad. The next one. Number eight to go down. Well. And we can also use this in the negative and not to go down well. So when we use to go down well, received by somebody. So perhaps the company decides end of the year party. And in addition to that, they're couple of days holidays during And then on top of that, they're by eight or ten percent to meet So when all of that is agreed to each other, somebody will We've got that package. Agreed. It should go down well with the be very happy with it. They should accept it, and they are trying to help them with the So it should go down well. Now if we want to use it in a when somebody doesn't really like what has, has, um, happened don't or they won't like what has been done. Okay, so perhaps the government announced that they're forced to increase taxes by two or three or four percent to meet the rising costs and the extra money that the government has to spend on housing or social welfare or hospitals. Okay, so the report in the will not go down well with the people are already under increased inflation, higher, And now on top of all of that, tax increase of two percent. So, yes, it's unlikely that that general population and people frustrated, they'll be angry. And perhaps when the next election comes around, this government is going to have a problem and a struggle getting re-elected. So something can go down well, positively or not go down well in a negative situation to go ballistic. Well, now when we go ballistic, we really go mad and we really get annoyed. So if somebody is very, very angry and starts shouting and screaming, then we could generally, generally use the expression, oh, I'd stay away from him. He's gone ballistic. I mean, I don't know what I don't know what was in the I don't know what that telephone wouldn't go near the office He's gone absolutely ballistic. So shouting, screaming, roaring, Okay, so to go ballistic usually To be very angry. Very annoyed. So it's not a happy experience. It's annoying, frustrating, All of these emotions come out Okay, to go ballistic. Number ten to go to pieces. When somebody goes to pieces, They do get very emotionally And perhaps they have a little Now, it might not be a full nervous breakdown, but to them, it appears that the world is coming to end and they go to pieces. Often happens when people's So son or daughter or husband or breaks up with the other person really, really badly. They get emotionally upset as you, as you would, and they go to pieces. So for several days or weeks. They can't talk to anybody about They are crying all the time. They can't focus on their work to an end. So they go to pieces. So maybe they lean on a really close friend to explain it to them, and the friend tries to comfort them and to explain, yeah, well, look, these things happen. You've got to try and get over Yeah, I understand, you know, and pull yourself together, try control, you know, and, you take a few days holidays and after that, but it's going to So to go to pieces. Okay. But you could also go to pieces Yeah. Maybe you're, you're getting to chances of getting another job So yeah, of course, you could go to pieces if your boss called you in and says, I'm really sorry, but the company's closing down or your division is closing and there's going to be no work for you. Of course, we will give you good but there's not going to be any February or March. Okay. So yeah, you could go to pieces future, that you're going to job that will replace the sort So to go to pieces generally your world appears to fall apart or major upset. So either losing the job, relationship, whatever it might Okay, now number eleven to go Well, when we go wild, we sort are running around or driving of our normal way of behaving. Yeah. Okay. So. are the kids went wild this They have no school from Friday. They're on holidays for a couple Wow. They really had some built up was no controlling them. They just went wild. So so out of control for a Okay. Or we might say, look, why don't we take a really long holiday and let's just go wild for a little bit? Meaning let's not plan anything. Let's just decide where we go. Switch off all the gadgets. Let's just go wild. Meaning let your hair down and Okay? So to go wild to go public. Well, when you go public with something, it means you make everybody or as many people as possible aware of a certain situation. So when we keep something private, we keep it to ourselves. We maybe tell our closest friend or the family members, but then when we go public, we make a general announcement. So again, if we go back to our people try to keep it a little to go public. So when they've dealt with it themselves, then perhaps they will go public and they tell their work colleagues or just to let you know, in case you were wondering what was happening, my relationship or my marriage has broken down. It's a little bit upsetting, but I don't really want to talk about it. But I thought you'd better know. So we go public with it. Yeah. So we tell those people working with us or other people what the situation is. And if people talk about it, So to go public is the opposite to keeping something private and secret. Okay. So you might ask somebody, well, company in a couple of weeks. I've decided it's time to retire, but I don't want to go public yet. I don't want to tell everybody, but I'm just telling a few people. So you ask some people to keep it quiet, so not to go public until you're ready to tell more people. So let's not go public yet. Okay, so when we go public, we people as we can. And when we keep something quiet ourselves to go public. That's number twelve. Number thirteen. This is a very Irish expression Now, when we go spare, it's just another way of saying to go mad, to go crazy, to get really annoyed. Yeah. When I told my teacher I hadn't completed the project she had given me, and that I probably won't be able to complete it for a couple of days, she just went spare. She started shouting and What do you mean you haven't I've given you plenty of time. Everybody else has completed it, Why are you always last? So she just went completely She lost control. Okay, so we use the expression Okay. To go spare. When somebody goes ballistic, as they go crazy, they start So, oh, I don't know. She she just went completely And, you know, you can tell your husband or wife when they come home from work, they walk into the house and they know immediately, immediately there's something wrong. Okay. What happened? What? What? No, there's an atmosphere. There's nobody talking to each There's no televisions on. I said, oh, well, you need to John or Peter. They came home from school corner, started shouting and They just went completely spare. I couldn't get anything out of So something happened, something serious happened or serious for them. So they went completely spare. They lost control. And then finally number fourteen Okay, now this expression we use when things go from bad to worse, lots of things start off okay, but then something happens again. Going back to a relationship. It's okay for a while, a few But then, you know, somebody Somebody stops texting the other Few little arguments here, a few And then after a while, the means it goes from bad to worse. So when something goes downhill, Yeah. Okay. Perhaps the service in the local Oh, ever since they changed the service has just gone downhill. I mean, when you phone up for a I mean, who's going to wait an And when you go into the restaurant, it's always half empty. But there's no service. You can sit there twenty minutes Oh, I'm not going to go there The service has gone downhill, have gone downhill since the history teacher left, or reasoning behind it. Something has changed and things They've gone from bad to worse. Okay, so when when things change, not for the better, then we can use the expression to go downhill. So there you have it. You've got fourteen particular expressions, simple everyday expressions that you can use with that simple verb to go, okay. And we've got this expression in When the going gets tough, the When the going gets tough, the So what that means is when things get bad or difficult, that's when you have to be at your best. So the, the, the, the good people, the strong people, they get tough. Also, when the going gets tough, the tough get going, it means they start, they kick into action. So what you have to do now with these expressions, you've got to get going. You've got to get going to learn them, to understand them and to use them. Okay. So let me run through them very One more time. Number one to get going. Number two to go begging. Number three. How's it going? Number four. There you go. Number five. Go for it. Number six to go bad or to go Number seven to go mad. To go deaf or to go bald. Number eight to go down well. Or as we said, the negative not Well. Number nine to go ballistic. Number ten to go to pieces. Number eleven to go wild, twelve Thirteen to go spare. Lose control completely to go And number fourteen, when things go downhill they go from bad to worse. Okay, now I've just remembered. Actually, when if I look, go back to number two to go begging. I should have mentioned that we can also use this when something. For example, a job is available available in the school. And if you apply to the principal, you'll make some money during the summer holidays. There's a job going begging in If you apply, you're bound to Or there's a promotion going has just announced his to say something is available. But you have to be quick because step in and get it. So that's another meaning of to Okay, well, this is Harry And as always, if you need to www.englishlessonviakype.com me for the next lesson.