go the distance

present singular third person goes the distance · participle present going the distance · past went the distance · participle past gone the distance

1. boxingTo participate in a boxing match for its maximum number of rounds.

   "In a way it's like the quality of muscle and heart that enables some prizefighters to go the distance—twenty, thirty, forty rounds, say," Dick concurred.

   1915, Jack London, chapter 20, in The Little Lady of the Big House

   1 more example

   It really don't matter if this guy opens my head, even, cause I all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, seein' that bell ring and I'm still standin', I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood.

   1976 November 21, Rocky, spoken by Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone)

2. broadlyidiomaticTo have the endurance to see a difficult, sustained challenge to its natural end without faltering.

   "Do you notice how every one is trying to avoid the subject of the war? . . . I am sure they cannot keep it up." "They won't go the distance," Julian whispered.

   1920, E. Phillips Oppenheim, chapter 4, in The Devil's Paw

   2 more examples

   “We are very pleased that we went the distance in this case, all the way through a jury trial, and that we were able to obtain such a tremendous recovery for shareholders.”

   2013 October 18, Chad Bray, “HSBC to Appeal $2.46 Billion Judgment”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 23 Oct 2015, retrieved 23 Jun 2014

   Selby's charge continued with a half-century in the 30th frame and a fluked red set him on the way to winning the 31st frame. That opened up the possibility of a first Crucible finale to go the distance since Peter Ebdon's 18-17 victory over Stephen Hendry in 2002, but Brecel recovered his composure to get across the line for an emotional victory.

   2023 May 1, Steve Sutcliffe, “World Snooker Championship 2023 final: Luca Brecel beats Mark Selby for first world title”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 08 Jun 2023