Gransnet forums

Pedants' corner

Good to go

(29 Posts)
Greta Wed 21-Nov-18 16:15:32

Where does this come from? I hear it a lot these days, something is "good to go". Yesterday in the supermarket I saw a big sign saying "Food to go". First I thought it was food that had reached its sell-by-date but it turned out to be mostly snacks.

And why doesn't good rhyme with food?

Lynne59 Sat 24-Nov-18 21:51:05

Also, why are coffee shop assistants called baristas? They press a couple of knobs, bang the tin cup thing very loudly, and fill the thing up with coffee. I want a job with a fancy title grin

Oakleaf Sat 24-Nov-18 22:18:08

I'm browsing the OED and the verb "to go" in the sense of pregnancy is interesting.

In the 19C someone might have said:

I go with child or/
The woman goes nine months and then brings forth a child.

Nowadays we still say: She's three months gone.

Also, I like how "go" used to be use to describe coins or banknotes which could be accepted as currency (or not):

This half crown will never go. It's brass.

Nowadays, if we were using "go" in this way I suppose we would say:

I have an old paper five pound note which will not go.

grannyticktock Sun 25-Nov-18 17:56:12

I don't think I'd ever say that a bank note wouldn't "go", but I would use it of machines and gadgets even stationary ones that don't go anywhere:
I've changed the battery but this torch still doesn't go.
The oven's OK but the grill won't go.