go for

3 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 choose or decide to have something B1
  2. 2 try to get or achieve something B1
  3. 3 attack someone suddenly B2
1 go for sth

choose or decide to have something

B1

What does "go for" mean in this sense?

To 'go for' something means to choose it, especially when you are deciding between several options. It is very common in everyday situations like ordering food at a restaurant, picking a product in a shop, or choosing between two plans. It often suggests a final or spontaneous decision — the moment you make up your mind. You will often hear it with 'think': 'I think I'll go for the pasta' is a very natural way to order. In more formal writing, people might prefer 'choose' or 'opt for', but in conversation 'go for' is the everyday choice.

Examples

How to use it

go for + option/thing

The most common pattern — use it when choosing one thing from a set of available options.

I couldn't decide, but in the end I went for the window seat.

think I'll go for + option

Adding 'I think' or 'I'm going to' before 'go for' is a natural way to soften or announce a decision in real time.

Hmm, I think I'll go for the vegetarian option today.

go for it

'Go for it' is a very common fixed phrase used to encourage someone to do something or to decide to do something yourself.

Everyone said the job sounded perfect for me, so I decided to go for it.

go for + pronoun

Pronouns always follow 'for' directly — they cannot go between 'go' and 'for'.

There were two jackets I liked, and I went for the cheaper one.

imperative: go for + option

Used to recommend a choice to someone else.

If you like bold colours, go for the red — it looks amazing.

Common Collocations

go for the cheaper optiongo for itgo for something differentgo for the salmon / steak / pastago for the upgradego for a new style

Common Mistakes

Separating the phrasal verb

'Go for' is inseparable — the object must always come after 'for'. Never put a word between 'go' and 'for'.

✗ I went the pasta for in the end.
✓ I went for the pasta in the end.
Confusing the 'choose' sense with the 'attack' sense

When 'go for' means 'choose', the object is a thing or option (the blue one, the cheaper model). When it means 'attack', the object is a person or animal and the context involves aggression — these are very different meanings, so pay attention to context.

Using it with activity nouns when you mean 'choose'

Phrases like 'go for a walk' or 'go for a swim' use a different sense of 'go for' — they mean doing an activity, not choosing between options. Don't mix these up when you want to talk about making a selection.

✗ I went for a walk between the two options.
✓ I went for the cheaper option in the end.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and very common in spoken English, especially when ordering food or making a choice between options. In more formal writing, 'opt for' or 'choose' would be more appropriate.

2 go for sth

try to get or achieve something

B1

Sense 2: What does "go for sth" mean?

To 'go for' something means to make a deliberate decision to try to achieve or get it, often with a sense of confidence or boldness. It suggests you are committing to the attempt, not just thinking about it. People use it when talking about ambitious goals like jobs, prizes, or records — for example, deciding to apply for a promotion or compete for a title. The phrase carries a positive, energetic feeling, as if you are saying 'I'm going to try my best.' It is especially common in motivational or competitive situations, both in conversation and in writing.

Examples

How to use it

go for + goal/prize/opportunity

The most common pattern — use it when talking about pursuing an ambitious target such as a job, award, or record.

She decided to go for the scholarship even though only three students would be selected.

go for it

Used as a fixed expression of encouragement, often when the goal has already been mentioned or is clear from context.

You've been preparing for months — just go for it!

imperative: go for + goal

Used to encourage someone to make a bold attempt at something specific.

Go for the top prize — you're definitely good enough to win.

be going for + goal

The present continuous form describes an active, ongoing attempt to achieve something.

The team is going for their third championship title this season.

went for + goal

Use the simple past to describe a previous attempt or decision to pursue something.

He went for the sales manager position and ended up getting the job.

Common Collocations

go for a promotiongo for a jobgo for goldgo for itgo for the wingo for an opportunity

Common Mistakes

Trying to separate the verb

This phrasal verb is inseparable, so the object must always come after 'for'. You cannot put anything between 'go' and 'for'.

✗ She decided to go it for.
✓ She decided to go for it.
Confusing the two meanings of 'go for'

'Go for' meaning 'try to achieve' is used with ambitious goals (a job, a medal, a record). When someone is simply choosing between options — such as food or products — 'go for' has a different, unrelated meaning. Make sure the context clearly involves effort and ambition, not just selection.

✗ I'm really going for that new job, so I'll go for the chicken sandwich.
✓ I'm really going for that new job — I've already sent my application.
Using it in unnatural tense forms

Forms like 'will have gone for' or 'had been going for' sound awkward and unnatural. Stick to simple tenses, the present continuous, or the present perfect.

✗ By next year, she will have gone for the promotion.
✓ She's planning to go for the promotion next year.

Usage

'Go for it' is a very common informal phrase used to encourage someone to try something boldly. This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works well in both spoken and written English.

3 go for sb

attack someone suddenly

B2

Sense 3: What does "go for sb" mean?

This sense of 'go for' describes a sudden, aggressive physical attack — the kind where someone or something lunges or charges at another person or animal with little or no warning. It strongly suggests the attack is impulsive and uncontrolled rather than planned. The phrasal verb is especially common when talking about animal attacks, particularly dogs, though it also works for people who snap and attack someone in a moment of rage. You'll often hear it in eyewitness accounts, news reports about animal incidents, and everyday storytelling. What makes it distinctive is the sense of surprise: 'go for' implies the attack came out of nowhere, which is why adverbs like 'suddenly' and phrases like 'without warning' appear alongside it so naturally.

Examples

How to use it

subject + go for + person/animal

The most common structure — the subject (a person or animal) attacks the object directly, and the object always follows 'for'.

The dog went for the delivery driver as soon as the gate opened.

subject + go for + pronoun

Pronoun objects are very natural and common, especially in spoken accounts of what happened.

Nobody expected it — the dog just went for him completely unprovoked.

subject + go for + body part

When specifying which part of the body was targeted, the body part follows 'for' as the object.

The stray cat went for my ankle when I tried to move it off the chair.

subject + go for + each other / one another

Use this pattern when two people or animals attack each other simultaneously.

The two dogs suddenly went for each other in the middle of the park.

adverb/phrase + subject + go for + object

Adverbs like 'suddenly' or phrases like 'without warning' often come before the subject to emphasise how unexpected the attack was.

Without any warning, the man went for the security guard near the exit.

Common Collocations

the dog went forwent for him/hersuddenly went forwent for the throatwent for the intruderwent for a stranger

Common Mistakes

Confusing with 'go for' meaning 'choose'

This phrasal verb has several senses, and 'go for' meaning 'attack' can be confused with 'go for' meaning 'choose' or 'try to achieve'. The key is the object: an animate person or animal under physical threat signals the attack sense, while a food item, prize, or abstract goal signals a different sense entirely.

✗ The goalkeeper went for the record in the second half.
✓ The goalkeeper went for the attacker after the final whistle — both players had to be separated.
Trying to use the passive

While it is not technically impossible, native speakers almost never use the passive with this sense of 'go for'. Stick to active constructions where the attacker is the subject.

✗ The postman was gone for by the dog.
✓ The dog went for the postman as soon as he opened the gate.
Using future simple in neutral contexts

'Will go for' sounds unnatural in ordinary descriptions of attacks and can come across as a deliberate threat rather than a report of what happened. Use simple past or past continuous when describing an incident.

✗ I think the dog will go for you if you get too close.
✓ The dog went for him the moment he reached over the fence.

Usage

This meaning of 'go for' is neutral in register and appears in both speech and news reports, but it is most commonly used when describing animal attacks (especially dogs). When used about people, it suggests a sudden, uncontrolled physical attack rather than a planned fight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'go for' be used in the past tense?

Yes, the past simple is very natural. 'She went for the red dress' or 'We went for the cheaper deal' are both correct and common. The present perfect ('I've gone for...') is possible but much less common in this sense.

Does 'go for it' mean the same thing as 'go for' + an option?

'Go for it' is almost a fixed expression meaning 'do it' or 'don't hesitate — make the choice'. It is used when encouraging someone (or yourself) to decide without worrying. It's related to the 'choose' meaning but has become its own very common phrase.

Can I use 'go for' to describe choosing a plan or approach, not just food or products?

Absolutely. 'Go for' works for any kind of selection — a strategy, a style, an approach, or an idea. For example, 'The team went for a more creative approach' is perfectly natural.

Does 'go for' have other meanings besides 'choose'?

Yes — 'go for' has several meanings in English, such as going somewhere to do an activity ('go for a walk') or applying to someone too ('that goes for you as well'). On this page we are only looking at the 'choose' meaning, but it's worth knowing the others exist so you can use context to tell them apart.

Can I use 'go for' in formal writing?

It can appear in slightly more formal contexts, but in professional or academic writing, 'choose' or 'opt for' are usually preferred. 'Go for' is at its most natural in spoken English and casual written messages like texts or informal emails.

Does 'go for' always mean trying to achieve something?

No — 'go for' has several different meanings. It can mean to choose something (like food), to attack someone, or even to cost a certain amount. This page covers only the meaning of boldly trying to achieve a goal. Context usually makes the meaning clear.

Is 'Go for it!' rude or too casual to say?

'Go for it!' is informal and very common in everyday spoken English, but it is not rude — it's simply enthusiastic encouragement. You might avoid it in very formal professional situations, but it is perfectly natural in most conversations and even in written advice articles.

What kinds of things can you 'go for'?

Typically you go for ambitious targets: a promotion, a job, a medal, a record, a title, a scholarship, or an opportunity. The object is usually something competitive or challenging that requires effort to achieve. It would sound unusual to use this sense with small, everyday choices.

Can I use 'go for' in the passive, like 'the prize was gone for'?

No — this phrasal verb does not work in the passive. English speakers never say 'the award was gone for by her.' Always use it in the active form, with the person doing the pursuing as the subject.

What is the difference between 'go for' and 'go after' when talking about goals?

'Go for' and 'go after' are very similar in this context and you can often use either one. However, 'go for' tends to suggest a bold commitment or decision — almost like taking the plunge — while 'go after' can feel slightly more like active chasing or pursuit. In most everyday situations, both are natural choices.

Does 'go for' always refer to animals attacking people, or can it describe people attacking other people?

It works for both, but the animal context — especially dogs — is far more common. When used about people, it suggests a sudden, uncontrolled lunge rather than a planned fight, so it often appears in situations where someone snaps or reacts impulsively. Using it about people can sound quite dramatic or sensational.

Can I use 'go for' in the present tense to describe an attack?

Yes, especially in narrative present tense when you are telling a story as if it is happening now — for example, 'So the dog goes for him and he drops everything.' It also works in zero-conditional or warning contexts, such as 'He goes for anyone who gets too close.' The simple past is the most natural tense for reporting what happened.

What is the difference between 'go for' and 'go at' when talking about attacks?

'Go for' suggests a sudden lunge or charge at a target, emphasising the speed and surprise of the attack. 'Go at' implies more sustained, energetic aggression — someone really putting in effort — and is slightly more informal. In most contexts involving a quick, unexpected attack, 'go for' is the more natural choice.

Does 'go for' need an object, or can I use it without one?

In this sense, 'go for' always needs an object — it cannot be used without one. The object tells you who or what was attacked. A pronoun like 'him', 'her', or 'it' is perfectly natural if the person or animal is already clear from context.

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