Idiom
go the extra mile
To make a special additional effort beyond what is expected.
Meanings
To make a special additional effort to achieve something or to help someone, surpassing what is normally required.
Definition
This idiom means to do more than what is strictly required or expected of you. It implies putting in extra effort, time, or care to achieve a better result or to help someone. It often suggests a willingness to exceed normal expectations and go above and beyond.
Examples
- The customer service representative really went the extra mile to resolve my issue, staying on the phone much longer than expected.
- If you want to excel in your career, you often have to be willing to go the extra mile and take on challenging projects.
- My teacher always goes the extra mile to ensure her students understand the material, even offering extra tutoring sessions after class.
- Preparing for the presentation, Sarah decided to go the extra mile by creating custom visual aids, which impressed everyone in the room.
- The volunteers went the extra mile to clean up the park, collecting every last piece of litter and even planting new flowers.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use 'go the extra mile' literally, forgetting that 'mile' here is a metaphor for additional effort, not distance.
Learn this in a path
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More verb phrases
- step on someone's toes To avoid offending or interfering with someone's responsibilities or authority.
- call it a day To decide to stop working or doing an activity for the remainder of the day.
- keep an eye on To watch someone or something continuously and carefully.
- read between the lines To understand the implicit meaning or unspoken message in what someone says or writes.
- make ends meet To earn just enough money to cover one's basic expenses.