Idioms beginning with G

Idiom

Meaning

Get the ball rolling

To start something or get something moving

Go down in flames

To fail spectacularly or disastrously

Give someone the cold shoulder

To intentionally ignore or reject someone

Grin and bear it

To endure a difficult or unpleasant situation

Go out on a limb

To take a risk or make a bold decision

Go the extra mile

To make an extra effort beyond what is required

Get off someone’s back

To stop bothering or nagging someone

Go against the grain

To do something contrary to what is customary or expected

Give someone a taste of their own medicine

To treat someone the way they have treated others

Get wind of

To hear about or learn something, often indirectly

Green-eyed monster

Jealousy

Goody two-shoes

Someone who always follows the rules and is overly virtuous

Get a kick out of

To find enjoyment or amusement in something

Go haywire

To malfunction or go awry

Gravy train

Easy or lucrative source of income or profit

Get cold feet

To become nervous or hesitant before doing something

Go Dutch

To split the cost equally between two people

Go overboard

To go to an extreme, especially with enthusiasm or spending

Go down in history

To be remembered or recorded in history

Give the thumbs up

To give approval or permission

Go belly up

To go bankrupt or fail financially

Get the hang of

To become proficient or skilled at something

Golden opportunity

A highly favorable or advantageous chance

Get a taste of one’s own medicine

To experience something negative that one has done to others

Green thumb

A natural talent for gardening

Get one’s act together

To organize or improve one’s behavior or performance

Go to the dogs

To deteriorate or decline in quality or status

Get over it

To accept and move on from a difficult situation

Go bananas

To become extremely excited or angry

Go through the roof

To become very angry or upset

Give someone a piece of one’s mind

To express one’s thoughts or feelings candidly

Go the whole nine yards

To do something completely or thoroughly

Get a grip

To gain control or composure

Go with the flow

To accept events as they happen and not resist change

Get a taste of

To experience something briefly or in a small amount

Go off the deep end

To become emotionally unstable or irrational

Grin from ear to ear

To smile broadly or happily

Go to great lengths

To make a considerable effort or sacrifice

Get in the groove

To become involved or engaged in an activity

Go over someone’s head

To bypass someone in authority

Give someone the benefit of the doubt

To believe someone’s statement without proof

Get a leg up

To gain an advantage or head start

Go off the rails

To behave in a wild or erratic manner

Get the picture

To understand or grasp the situation

Go for broke

To risk everything in pursuit of success or victory

Grin like a Cheshire cat

To smile broadly and mischievously

Go back to the drawing board

To start over and rethink a plan or idea

Get one’s ducks in a row

To get organized or prepared

Go under the knife

To undergo surgery

Give it one’s best shot

To make one’s best effort

Go cold turkey

To quit or abstain from something suddenly and completely