going to great lengths
Trying very hard
Going to great lengths means making extraordinary effort or taking extensive measures to achieve something.
The phrase suggests doing far more than what's typical or convenient: She went to great lengths to hide her past, They went to great lengths to make us feel welcome.
Often implies the effort is disproportionate, obsessive, or admirable depending on context.
- longOf great extent
- farAt great distance
- exertionVigorous physical effort
- effortApplied energy toward goals
- distanceSpace between two points
sacrifice · at any cost · spare no expense · struggle · perseverance · determination · tenacity · resourcefulness · resolve · endurance · lateral thinking · improvisation · bending over backwards · moving heaven and earth · above and beyond · extensive · steadfastness · grit
going to great lengthshalfhearted
Lacking sincere commitment
phoning it in · going through the motions · coasting · cutting corners · quitting
going, great, greater, greatest, greatly, greatness, length, lengths, lengthen