go to town on
Do something thoroughly
To go to town on something is to do it with enthusiasm, energy, or thoroughness—often to excess.
You might go to town on a meal, devouring it eagerly: She really went to town on that pizza.
The phrase also applies to criticism or attack: The reviewers went to town on his latest film.
The underlying image is of someone who, having reached town after rural isolation, indulges fully in its pleasures.
- exaggerateOverstate beyond truth
- go overboardAct with excessive enthusiasm
- indulgeSatisfy a craving
- let looseRemove restraints from
- overdoExceed reasonable limits
rampage · exhaustiveness · feast · eat up · splurge · rigor · voracity · have at it · devour · meticulousness · lay into · tear into · pull no punches · intensify · zeal · go ham · gusto · comprehensiveness
go to town onhold back
Prevent forward movement
phone it in · half-ass · go through the motions · take it easy · go easy
go to town onfast
Speedy, or skip eating
diet · abstain · go without · deny oneself · nibble
going, gone, town, towns, township, townsman, townsfolk, townspeople