ENGLISH
REFERENCE

go the extra mile

idiom
Meaning

To make an extra effort; to do a particularly good job.


Origin

disputed origin

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

Examples
SIMPLE

She always goes the extra mile to help her friends.

CONTEXTUAL

Our waiter went the extra mile by bringing us a free dessert for our anniversary.

COMPLEX

The architect went the extra mile to ensure every detail of the building reflected the client's unique vision.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all dressed up and nowhere to go

    Elaborately attired or otherwise fully prepared for an anticipated situation or activity which, nevertheless, fails to occur.

  2. 02

    all systems go

    Everything is ready.

  3. 03

    as you go

    While one is doing (something); as one progresses.

  4. 04

    boldly go where no man has gone before

    To break new ground.

  5. 05

    come and go

    To repeatedly appear and disappear; to be transient.

  6. 06

    country mile

    A long way, a great distance.

  7. 07

    don't go there

    Do not broach that topic.

  8. 08

    easy come, easy go

    Easily won and easily lost (usually said when resigned to a loss; something that comes in the same way, goes in the same way)

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