"Go to Town" Idiom Meaning, Origin & History | Superduper English Idioms
Channel: Superduper English Idioms
Date: 01/12/2020

0:00 - How to Say, “Go to town…”
0:25 - Examples of “Go to town…”
1:04 - Meaning of “Go to town…”
1:56 - Origin of “Go to town…”
4:00 - More Examples of “Go to town…”
4:46 - Conclusion

“Go to town…”

When someone says that they will “go to town,” on something, they mean that they will do it exuberantly, enthusiastically, cheerfully, or that they can do it efficiently, easily, quickly.

“Fixing your blog will be easy, let me go to town on it…” your techie friend might say after you ask for help.

Maybe you ask your parents if you can eat the last piece of cake, “Go to town on it!” is their reply.

“You’re really going to town on that burger! You must be hungry, eh?” your friend might say to you as you scarf down your lunch.

As you can tell, if you “go to town” on something, you take care of it rapidly, quickly, swiftly, efficiently, effectively, “like nobody’s business”, “like a bat out of hell”, “a mile a minute”.

The idiom, “go to town”, is usually used for positive activities, but can also be used for negative ones.

“You really went to town on your friend, what did she do?” you might ask your wife after she gets off the phone, still angry.

The origin of the idiom, “go to town”, probably comes from 1800s America, at a time when literally going to town was a big deal, a big day for country folk.

Back then, at a time when the steam engine was the only form of motorized transport and cars hadn’t yet been invented, going to town by horse and buggy was an entire day’s affair.

Thankfully, Carl Benz patented a “vehicle powered by a gas engine” on January 29, 1886; and today, more than 130 years later, it may only take 30 minutes to get to town from the countryside.

More thankfully, due to the hard work of many individuals who have come before us, most of us - save for those in the poorest nations - can enjoy a life of abundance and convenience unimaginable just 100 years ago.

We should certainly be thankful for all that we have and for those who have contributed to our lives directly and indirectly…

… while at the same time working toward an even better future for ourselves, our families, our communities, our nations, our world.

“You’re really going to town on your homework,” your classmate might say. “Of course! I need to ace all my classes so that I’ll have my choice of university next year.”

Perhaps your partner spent all day outside, “Wow! You really went to town on the garden, it’s beautiful.”

“You really went to town on her, but c’mon, fighting is something kids do!” you might tell your husband after he’s done lecturing your child.

Accordingly, the next time you want to say that you’ll do something voraciously, eagerly, keenly, or that you can do it skillfully, expertly, with ease, don’t forget that you’ll “go to town” on it!

#superduperenglishidioms #englishidioms #idioms #proverbs

References: https://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/20/messages/293.html#:~:text=In%20the%20sense%20of%20doing,%2C%20New%20York%2C%201985).