Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

give the go-by

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.51 in modern English

Syllables: give the -go--by
IPA

24

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To leave behind, outdistance.

Archaic; Transitive verb

verb

To avoid dealing with; to disregard, ignore.

Transitive verb

verb

To snub (someone); to end a relationship.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"Sliding Cube was taken on in front at Randwick and a couple of runners gave her the ‘go by’ when the field straightened."
"[T]hey express sweetly enough some natural sentiments,—and what more would you have in a song? You have had far more in some songs to which we have given the go-by[…]"
"To those other, those so august, accomplishments she no more pretended. She gave them the go-by."
""You're givin' me the go-by. Please, Jack, don't give me the go-by.[…] Did you see him gi'me me the go-by? He's through. That's all—through.""
""If you mean to give him the go-by, you ought to do it cleanly […] and not string the fellow along.""

Usage

Inflected Forms

gives the go-by (present, singular) giving the go-by (participle, present) gave the go-by (past) given the go-by (participle, past)

Questions

What does give the go-by mean?: To leave behind, outdistance.

How to pronounce give the go-by

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