go at it

English

Etymology

go +‎ at it or go at +‎ it

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌɡoʊ ˈæt ɪt/

Verb

go at it (third-person singular simple present goes at it, present participle going at it, simple past went at it, past participle gone at it)

1. As go at + it; spoken emphasis typically on 'go'.

   I can't figure out this problem. I've been going at it [going at the problem] for hours now.

2. As go + at it; spoken emphasis typically on 'at'.
   1. (informal) To engage in some activity, especially vigorously or enthusiastically.

      We were all going at it like crazy, trying to get the job finished before the deadline.

   2. (slang, intransitive) To fight.

      Synonyms: get into it, mix it up, throw down, let someone have it; see also Thesaurus:fight

      Joe accidentally spilled his drink on Eric, Eric got up and insulted his mother, and before you know it, they were going at it.

   3. (slang, euphemistic, intransitive) To have sex.

      Synonyms: do it, get it on; see also Thesaurus:copulate

      I walked into my dorm room and caught my roommate and his girlfriend going at it.

References

• “go at it”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.