idiom · informal

go the extra mile

UK/ɡəʊ ðə ˈɛkstrə maɪl/US/ɡoʊ ðə ˈɛkstrə maɪl/go the EX·tra mile

speakingtask2

to make more effort than is expected in order to help or impress someone

Examples

She always goes the extra mile to help customers resolve their problems.

If you want to stand out at work, sometimes you have to go the extra mile.

Teachers who go the extra mile often get the best recommendations.

Band 8 sentence

In competitive workplaces, employees who go the extra mile are more likely to be promoted.

Collocations

  • go the extra mile for someone
  • really go the extra mile

Word family

goes the extra mile verb phrase (3rd sg)going the extra mile verb phrase (gerund)went the extra mile verb phrase (past)

Common mistakes

go extra milego the extra mile

goes the extra milesgoes the extra mile

He go the extra mileHe goes the extra mile

Say it for a higher band

5work hard6do extra work7+go the extra mile

Synonyms

go above and beyond

Easily confused

go above and beyond

Our staff went above and beyond to finish the project on time.

Related words

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In Success

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