Meaning & use
green for go
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phraseinformalBritish
a green traffic light, which means vehicles can go
Grammar: Often used with 'be': The light was green for go.
Patterns
- be green for go
- the lights are green for go
The lights were green for go, so we crossed the road.
Wait until it's green for go before you drive off.
The traffic light turned green for go and the cars moved forward.
phrasefixed phraseinformalBritish
a signal that you are allowed to start doing something
Grammar: Used informally to mean permission or a sign to begin: We have the green for go.
Patterns
- give someone the green for go
- get the green for go
The manager gave us the green for go on the new project.
Once we get the green for go, we can start building.
Everyone was waiting for the green for go from the boss.
Common combinations
- the lights are green for go
- The lights are green for go, so we can cross now.
- give someone the green for go
- The committee gave the team the green for go.
- get the green for go
- We got the green for go and started work immediately.
Synonyms and how they differ
- green light
- The usual American and more general term for permission to proceed.
- go-ahead
- A noun meaning permission to start something; more formal than 'green for go'.
Opposites
Commonly confused: green for go or green light?
green for go vs green light
'Green light' is the standard phrase in both British and American English; 'green for go' is a British informal variant.
Practice
What does 'green for go' mean?
Choose one answer.
'Green for go' refers to a green traffic light or a signal that you can proceed. The other options are unrelated to the phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “green for go”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.