Phrasal verb
go on at
Definition
phrasal verb. to complain to someone or criticize them repeatedly, usually in an annoying way.
phrasal verb. to pester or criticize someone persistently; a transitive phrasal verb typically used to describe nagging or repetitive verbal harassment.
Examples
“My parents always go on at me about my messy room.”
“She decided to quit her job because her boss was constantly going on at her for minor mistakes.”
“The opposition party continued to go on at the prime minister regarding the lack of transparency in the recent budget negotiations.”
Examples
simple
“My parents always go on at me about my messy room.”
contextual
“She decided to quit her job because her boss was constantly going on at her for minor mistakes.”
complex
“The opposition party continued to go on at the prime minister regarding the lack of transparency in the recent budget negotiations.”
Usage
The object is always the person being criticized or nagged.
Teaching tip
Contrast with 'nag' or 'pester'; 'go on at' emphasizes the repetitive, verbal nature of the annoyance and is very common in British spoken English.
Pitfall
He went on me about the bill.
He went on at me about the bill.
The preposition 'at' is essential to indicate the target of the nagging; without it, the phrase loses this specific meaning.
Phrasal verb
Particles
on at
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
go + on + at + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/go-on-at