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Glite Dictionary
to go so far as to

to go so far as to

53 5.6
To do something more extreme than people expect
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : llegar a
  • I will not go so far as to say we are in agreement on every point, that would be very unfortunate.
  • go so far as to say
  • go so far as to claim
  • go so far as to suggest

Within that process, she went so far as to change the kids names.

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Examples

  • OK, I got my answer then I would go so far as to say this is the correct answer for anyone.

  • But it never entered my mind that he would go so far as to actually betray me.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Within that process, she went so far as to change the kids names.

    Club Shay Shay

  • - Would you go so far as to say perfect?

    Hooper (1978)

  • At one point, he even went so far as to call for Gorbachev to step down.

    Academic text (1992)

  • I would go so far as to describe him as a visionary man.

    Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2012)

  • One state in northern India has gone so far as to link toilets to courtship.

    TED-Ed

  • It's unlikely that the administration will go so far as to deport students, he says.

    Academic text (2017)

  • Edward Richards even goes so far as to argue that public health law literally is administrative law.

    Academic text (2012)

  • The teacher went so far as to implement a new grading system to improve student engagement.

Synonyms

to go too far
vsto go so far as to
201 4.2

Say or do something that is not acceptable and may hurt people

focuses on being unusually extreme rather than only breaking acceptable limits
to overdo
vsto go so far as to
58 3.6

Do something too much, more than needed

is more about acting in an unusually extreme or unexpected way
to go overboard
vsto go so far as to
  • Informal
45 4.4

To do something more than is needed

is more about doing something unusually extreme rather than simple excess
to overreach
vsto go so far as to
15 6.2

To go beyond what you are allowed to do

is centered on unusual extreme acts rather than misusing power or permission
to transgress
vsto go so far as to
12 7.8

To do something that breaks a law, rule, or your idea of right and wrong

is about being unusually extreme rather than specifically breaking rules or morals
to overstep the mark
vsto go so far as to
  • UK
3 6.2

To behave in a way people think is not acceptable

emphasizes unusual or extreme action rather than mere situational inappropriateness
to take too far
vsto go so far as to
1 5.3

To go beyond what is reasonable or acceptable

focuses on unusually extreme single acts rather than prolonged extension beyond limits

Antonyms

to draw the line
  • Informal
82 4.1

Set a clear limit on what you will accept

How Extreme

to go overboard
  • Informal
45 4.4
to go so far as to
53 5.6

Surface Forms

go so far as to infinitive
going so far as to present participle
goes so far as to third person singular
went so far as to past
gone so far as to past participle

Morphology

go + so + far + as + to

The words 'go' (move/reach), 'so' (intensifier) and 'far' (to a great extent) together transparently signal reaching an extreme, and 'as to' introduces the specific action, so a learner can partly infer the meaning 'take an extreme step'. However, the fixed phrasing and pragmatic function ('go so far as to' = 'even do X') are somewhat grammaticalized and not fully predictable from the parts alone, so prior exposure or awareness of the construction is helpful.

Etymology

Go so far as to makes a simple picture: imagine someone who keeps going and walks so far that they take one extra step to do something no one else does. So, it means to do something extra or 'extreme' beyond what people usually do.