go-to

American  

[goh-too] / ˈgoʊˌtu /

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.

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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 British  

verb

1. to be awarded to

   the Nobel prize last year went to a Scot

2. to tackle a task vigorously

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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

go to Idioms  

1. See going to .

2. 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]

3. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of go-to

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

“We think Oracle should be one of the go-to investment names given its AI datacenter business and its core database business,” Moerdler wrote.

From MarketWatch

There wasn't much atmosphere, wasn't much attitude, wasn't any real standout displays from any of Scotland's go-to men, who were all a bit timid.

From BBC

“The company has been underperforming, not because of anything related to AI, but due to what we believe to be execution-driven issues, particularly in its go-to market function,” he said.

From Barron's

My go-to spot for a cheap and filling meal was Joe & Nemo’s, a small hot dog stand founded in Boston in 1909.

From The Wall Street Journal

I went to my binder of go-to seasonal recipes and realized, with a kind of dawning horror, that nearly all of them leaned on it.

From Salon

Related Words

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