Meaning of go for the gold | Babel Free

Definitions

To attempt to achieve the maximum result or reward in an endeavour.

idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

“At next year's Senior Olympic event, [Sam] Griffith plans on adding the 100-meter low hurdle, discus, and the 220-meter run, in addition to the events he entered this year. "Sam, go for it," as General [Albert] Stubblebine once said, becomes a motto for him. With that thought in mind, Griffith goes for the gold!”

“For the first three-quarters of the essay, [Jesse] Owens introduced the leading American athletes who would be going for gold. Then he turned to "an unhappier aspect of the games this year": the specter of black athletes using the Olympics as a forum of protest against America's treatment of its black citizens.”

“One look confirms that the Moby Brick is not destined to be a network server; this is a personal power tool to be carried around and plugged in wherever you need top-of-the-line computing power. And Ergo has gone for the gold in terms of the product's design.”

“Deciding to go for the gold, he leaned close to Luke's ear and whispered, "Can you tell Mama I should have a dog? A really big dog?"”

“Volunteers in the 10-year study "went for the gold." Their objective was to bring their blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible.”

“The 132-room Gaia Napa Valley Hotel wants to go for the gold, making it the highest-rated hotel in the state and the nation.”

“Laszlo [i.e., László Cseh] was second, Ryan [Lochte] third. Both these guys went faster in Beijing than I went for gold in Athens; even so, I had touched more than two seconds ahead of each of them.”

“Mr. President, in honor of Arnold Palmer, and the presentation of his [Congressional] Gold Medal to him on September 12, 2012, in the U.S. Capitol, for a lifetime of service to his Nation and contributions in the game of golf which has earned him the title of "The King", I ask that this poem penned in his honor on this occasion by Albert Caswell be printed in the Record. […] As this Gold Medal upon you we now so bestow / Because, on the fairways of life you've always gone for gold! / The Legend of Latrobe!”

“Beijing bureaucrats promote cricket for one pragmatic reason alone. China will feel obliged to go for gold if cricket ever becomes an Olympics game.”

“Several Paralympic Winter Games athletes will be swapping snowsuits and skis for summer clothing in Paris. Look out for Italy's Para snowboard athlete Veronica Plebani who goes for gold in Para triathlon.”

CEFR level