go-to

[goh-too]

noun

1. a reliable person or thing one turns to as a preferred resource, strategy, option, etc..

   She’s our go-to for computer advice.

   This dish is my go-to when I need something quick for a potluck.

2. a person’s standard way of behaving or responding; reflex.

   He’s not trying to impress you—that courtly politeness is his go-to with everybody.

adjective

1. relied on and turned to as a preferred resource, strategy, option, etc., for a particular purpose.

   She’s been the team’s go-to penalty kicker all season.

   This is my go-to dictionary.

2. being a person’s standard way of behaving or responding; usual or habitual.

   When I tell them to get off the computer, their go-to excuse is that they need it for homework.

go to

verb

1. to be awarded to

   the Nobel prize last year went to a Scot

2. to tackle a task vigorously

interjection

1. archaic,  an exclamation expressing surprise, encouragement, etc

adjective

1. 1. (of a person) extremely dependable

      the go-to guy in the team

   2. (of a place) popularly visited

      go-to destinations

Word History and Origins

Origin of go to¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Idioms and Phrases

See going to .

Also, go toward . Contribute to a result, as in Can you name the bones that go to make the arms and legs? or The director has a good eye for seeing what will go toward an entire scene . [c. 1600]

Begin, start, as in By the time she went to call, she'd forgotten what she wanted to say . The related idiom go to it means “get started, get going.” P.G. Wodehouse used it in Louder & Funnier (1932): “Stoke up and go to it.” [First half of 1700s]

Example Sentences

"I got used to the sevens game and I feel the way I played really suited that. With more players it was going to be different."

From BBC

"If we do get that sort of crisis because of their bad decisions, we're all going to suffer," she said.

From BBC

“My real concern is that it’s going to get ugly.”

From Los Angeles Times

"Just because I keep saying it doesn't mean it's just going to happen, so how do we go about that?"

From BBC

"It's going to give the whole team a lot of confidence," former Scotland captain Scott Brown said on Sportscene.

From BBC

Related Words

• approach 
• attain 
• contact 
• end 
• go 
• join 
• lead 
• make 
• pass 
• stand 
• strike