go amiss

verb

To be unhelpful or inappropriate: usually used in the negative, as "not go amiss", to express that something would be welcome or useful.

“A nice cup of tea wouldn't go amiss.”

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Meanings

verbgo amiss (third-person singular simple present goes amiss, present participle going amiss, simple past went amiss, past participle gone amiss)

present singular third person goes amiss · participle present going amiss · past went amiss · participle past gone amiss

  1. To be unhelpful or inappropriate: usually used in the negative, as "not go amiss", to express that something would be welcome or useful.

    A nice cup of tea wouldn't go amiss.

  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see go, amiss.

    We must find out what went amiss in order to avoid such mishaps in the future.

Cite this entry
APA

go amiss. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20amiss

MLA

“go amiss.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20amiss. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “go amiss,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20amiss.

Source: go amiss on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.