Phrasal verb
go at
Definition
phrasal verb. to attack someone or something with a lot of energy or force.
phrasal verb. to attack or approach a task with vigor, aggression, or determination; often used to describe physical altercations or energetic work.
Examples
“He went at the project with great energy.”
“The two boxers went at each other from the very first round.”
“The critics went at the new policy with such ferocity that the minister was forced to issue a public apology within hours.”
Examples
simple
“He went at the project with great energy.”
contextual
“The two boxers went at each other from the very first round.”
complex
“The critics went at the new policy with such ferocity that the minister was forced to issue a public apology within hours.”
Usage
usually followed by an object; 'go at it' is a common informal variation meaning to argue or fight.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'go for', which implies a choice or goal, whereas 'go at' emphasizes the intensity or aggression of the action itself.
Pitfall
They went at to the problem.
They went at the problem.
'go at' is a transitive phrasal verb that takes a direct object without an extra preposition like 'to'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
at
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
go + at + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/go-at