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go-to

go-to

43 4.9
A person or thing people always choose for a certain need
  • noun
  • /ˈɡoʊˌtu/
  • Informal
translation icon : persona de confianza
  • Here's a reference from the Purdue OWL, the go-to grammar and formatting reference we use at my university.
  • a go-to person
  • a go-to guy
  • a go-to source

But she was like my go to a go to girl.

Examples

  • I had also started to solidify my role in the building as the go-to person for tech help.

    Academic text (2014)

  • You've always been my go to guy.

    Ring the Bell (2013)

  • Does that make him your go-to man now?

    Run (2020)

  • The teacher librarians are the go-to people for quality ideas in education.

    Academic text (2011)

  • CW liaisons are the "go-to" people for anything related to education in their agencies.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Everyone at the Chamber knows Sunny Goodwin is the go-to person for any education-related information.

    Blog text (8)

  • Enter Tableau Software, the emerging go-to software vendor for this important part of the workflow.

    Blog text (8)

  • By the 2020s, the Americas will supersede the Middle East as the world's go-to source for petroleum.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Whenever I need advice on travel, she is my go-to person.

  • For all our tech issues, he's become the go-to expert in the office.

Synonyms

go-to resource
vsgo-to
  • Informal
1 4.0

A place, website, or person you often use for trusted information

is a more general person or thing chosen for many specific purposes
go-to remedy
vsgo-to
  • Informal
3.7

A simple, trusted way to help with a problem

is broader and applies to people or things chosen for many purposes
ol' reliable
vsgo-to
  • Informal
8.4

A person or thing you can always trust to do what is needed

focuses on being regularly chosen for specific situations rather than long term dependability

Antonyms

last resort
69 3.5

A final thing you try when all other options have failed

How Reliable

pillar
21 4.5
mainstay
18 4.9
go-to
  • Informal
43 4.9
backup
367 2.9

Surface Forms

go-to singular
go-tos plural

Morphology

go-to = go + to (transparent) = go + to

The compound derives from the phrase 'go to' (someone or something you turn to); learners who know 'go' + 'to' can infer 'a person/thing to go to' meaning a reliable option.

Etymology

The word go-to comes from the simple phrase go to, which means 'turn to' someone or something for help. So a go-to is literally someone or something you always rely on or choose when you need support.