go out of one's way

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go out of one's way (third-person singular simple present goes out of one's way, present participle going out of one's way, simple past went out of one's way, past participle gone out of one's way)

1. (idiomatic) To make an extra effort, so as to help or hinder.

   I wouldn't mind some help, but please don't go out of your way for me.

   • 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, →OCLC:

     As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could.

   • 2020 November 18, Gareth Dennis, “Can Cambridgeshire plan transform transportation?”, in Rail, page 64:

     Have you heard the word "gadgetbahn"? It's a portmanteau coined to describe transport proposals that, to all intents and purposes, ought to be delivered using proven railway technology... and yet go out of their way to be anything but a railway.

• bend over backwards
• go the extra mile
• go to great lengths
• move heaven and earth