Meaning & use
go to any lengths
Last updated
Meaning
phraseintransitive
To do everything possible, even extreme things, to achieve a goal.
Grammar: Used without an object, often followed by 'to' and an infinitive: 'go to any lengths to succeed'.
Patterns
- go to any lengths to do something
- go to any lengths for someone
- go to great lengths to do something
She went to any lengths to get the job she wanted.
He would go to any lengths to protect his family.
The company went to any lengths to keep the story out of the news.
Common combinations
- go to any lengths to do something
- They went to any lengths to win the contract.
- go to any lengths for someone
- She would go to any lengths for her children.
- go to great lengths
- He went to great lengths to make the party special.
- be prepared to go to any lengths
- Are you prepared to go to any lengths to achieve your dream?
Synonyms and how they differ
- go to great lengths
- A very similar phrase, but often suggests a lot of effort rather than extreme or unlimited measures.
- stop at nothing
- Means to be willing to do anything, even something wrong; 'go to any lengths' is slightly less negative.
Commonly confused: go to any lengths or go to great lengths?
go to any lengths vs go to great lengths
Both are idioms, but 'any lengths' stresses no limit, while 'great lengths' stresses a lot of effort.
Practice
She ___ to any lengths to make sure her son got a good education.
Choose one answer.
The past tense of 'go' is 'went'. 'Goed' is not a word, 'gone' needs a helper verb like 'has', and 'going' would need 'was' before it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “go to any lengths”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.