go all the way

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

go all the way (third-person singular simple present goes all the way, present participle going all the way, simple past went all the way, past participle gone all the way)

1. (intransitive, literally) To travel the entire distance to one's intended destination.
2. (intransitive, idiomatic) To continue to the conclusion of a task or project.
3. (intransitive, idiomatic, colloquial, euphemistic) To have sexual intercourse.
   • 1977, “Let’s Go All the Way (Down)”, in I Keep Coming Back for More, performed by Brenda & the Tabulations:

     Let's go all the way, baby / Let's not wait / Let's go all the way, down, it's alright

   • 1995, Amy Heckerling, Clueless, spoken by Cher (Alicia Silverstone):

     Actually, going all the way is like a really big decision. I can’t believe I was so caprecious^[sic] about it. Dee, I almost had sex with him.

• (achieve completion): cross the line
• (to have sexual intercourse): do it, get it, have sex; see also Thesaurus:copulate

• (antonym(s) of “achieve completion”): fall at the last hurdle

• get to first base
• go a long way
• take it to the next level