jugular

go for someone or something

1. Lit. to go out for someone or something; to go fetch someone or something. I am going for bread—do we need anything else from the store? Roger went for his aunt, who had arrived at the station.

2. Fig. to find someone or something interesting or desirable. I really go for chocolate in any form. Tom really goes for Gloria in a big way.

3. . Fig. to believe or accept something or something that someone says. It sounds pretty strange. Do you think they'll go for it?

go for somebody/something

to like or admire someone or something I don't go for movies with lots of violence. My mom likes pop music, but her mother would never have gone for stuff like that.

Related vocabulary: something goes for somebody/something else

go for something

1. to try to have or achieve something He'll be going for his third Olympic gold medal.

2. to choose something Offered the choice between a higher salary and more vacation time, which would you go for? People who always bought a small car are now going for small trucks.

go for the jugular

to attack fiercely in order to have no doubt about winning He was a politician known as someone who went for the jugular of his opponent.

Related vocabulary: play hardball

Etymology: from the idea that an animal often kills another animal by biting the jugular vein (tube that carries blood) in the neck, causing the animal to bleed to death quickly

go for the jugular

(informal)

to criticize someone very cruelly by talking about what you know will hurt them most

Usage notes: The jugular is a large vein that carries blood to the heart.

Cunningham, who usually goes straight for the jugular, seemed strangely reluctant to say anything.

go for

1. Go in order to get, as in I'll go for the paper, or He went for the doctor. This usage, dating from the late 1500s, gave rise to the 20th-century noun gofer, a person who is habitually sent on routine errands.

2. Be equivalent to or valued as; also, pass for, serve as. For example, All our efforts are going for very little, or That silver went for a lot of money, or That sofa can go for a bed. [Mid-1500s]

3. Aim or try for, especially making a vigorous effort. For example, They're going for the league championship. This idiom is also put as go for it, as in When Steve said he'd like to change careers, his wife told him to go for it. The related phrase go for broke means "to commit all one's available resources toward achieving a goal," as in Our competitors are going for broke to get some of our accounts. The first expression dates from the mid-1500s; the two colloquial variants from the first half of the 1900s. Also see all out; go out for.

4. Attack, as in We have to tie up our dog, because he loves to go for letter carriers. A hyperbolic variant, go for the jugular, is used for an all-out attack on the most vital part, as in In political arguments he always goes for the jugular. The jugular is a blood vessel whose rupture is life-threatening. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

5. Have a special liking for, as in I really go for progressive jazz. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]

6. Be valid for or applicable to, as in Kevin hates broccoli, and that goes for Dean, too. [Early 1900s] Also see have going for one.

go for

1. To reach or move toward something or someone: When the police officer looked away, the thief went for the door.

2. To reach or move toward something or someone in order to attack or injure: The angry dog went straight for my leg. The debater went for her opponents weaknesses.

3. To try to grab something quickly, especially a weapon: The soldier went for the knife on the table, but slipped and fell down.

4. To make a concerted effort to achieve some goal: I am going for my second tournament win. If you think you have a chance of winning, go for it. The running back saw an opening and went for it. Whenever I see an opportunity to make more money, I go for it.

5. To try to attain or produce some condition: The restaurant is going for a rustic atmosphere. Today's fashions are going for a colorful look.

6. To choose something: After trying all the different flavors, I went for the vanilla ice cream.

7. To have a special liking for something; enjoy something: My parents go for the older styles of jazz. I could really go for a beer right now.

8. To leave temporarily in order to fetch or get something: We're going for pizza; do you want to come along?

9. To apply or be relevant to someone or something: These rules go for the adults as well as the children. It's hard to eat pizza without making a mess, and the same goes for ice cream cones.

10. To be sold or available for purchase at some price: This phone normally goes for $100, but we'll give it to you for $60. How much did that old house finally go for? That painting will probably go for $1000 at auction, but I wouldn't pay one cent.

11. To be of support or value to someone: She had everything going for her after the success of her last album, but she threw it all away on drugs and alcohol. The team has a lot going for them. The one thing going for him is his talent for making people laugh; otherwise he's a failure.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Kirby	['kɜ:bi]
Shizuka	shee-zoo-kah	Japanese
SiÔR	SHOR	Welsh
Grazia	GRAHT-syah	Italian
Matthew	MATH-yoo (English)	English, Biblical
Gussie	GUS-ee	English