1 B2 idiomatic informal
To fight or argue with someone intensely.
"The two siblings were going at it again over who had borrowed whose clothes."
go at it
B2 informal intransitive
To fight, argue, or engage in an activity with great energy and intensity.
In plain English
To really fight or argue with someone, or to do something with a lot of energy.
What does "go at it" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 informal
To do something with great sustained energy or enthusiasm.
"They went at it for hours, trying to finish the mural before the opening."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To go at 'it' (the thing in question) — the referent of 'it' is contextual.
Actually means
To really fight or argue with someone, or to do something with a lot of energy.
Usage tip
A fixed colloquial phrase. Context determines whether the meaning is fighting/arguing, working energetically, or engaging in sexual activity (euphemistic). The euphemistic sense is understood from context and tone.
Words that pair with "go at it"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
hammer and tongs fiercely all night again relentlessly
How to conjugate "go at it"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
go at it
I/you/we/they
3rd person
goes at it
he/she/it
Past simple
went at it
yesterday
Past participle
gone at it
have + pp
-ing form
going at it
continuous
Hear "go at it" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "go at it" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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