going
/ˈɡəʊɪŋ
/noun
1An act of leaving a place; a departure: don’t lose track of your child’s comings and goings...
- Local councils are apparently not above hiring private detectives to keep tabs on the coming and goings of certain gentleman's clubs.
- Meanwhile, there were no major comings or goings at Ewood yesterday ahead of last night's transfer deadline.
- Keeping track of the goings and comings of companies in the industry, as you know, is an impossible task.
2 [in singular] The condition of the ground viewed in terms of suitability for horse racing, riding, or walking: the going was ideal here, with short turf and a level surface...
- The rain over the past couple of days meant the going was heavy with the conditions testing the stamina of the horses.
- If the going is genuinely good or faster at Aintree I think Monty's Pass must have a great chance.
- A huge crowd was at Prestbury Park where the going was good but the rain dampened spirits a little.
2.1Progress affected by the condition of the ground: the paths were covered with drifting snow and the going was difficult...
- Ditches and tree roots always make the going difficult in the woodland sections at this venue.
2.2Conditions for, or progress in, an endeavour: an opportunity to get out while the going is good she is a big support when the going gets tough the search goes on, but it is slow going...
- It may be prudent to ensure that real property is carefully titled while the going is good.
- They think the market is probably going to crash and they'd like to cash in while the going is good.
- Chris Henderson's squad of undercover narcotics officers was finding the going tough.
adjective
1 [predicative] chiefly British Existing or available; to be had: he asked if there were any other jobs going...
- If there was a spare ride going they would try to get the best available and, if not, get Dean.
- Another advantage going for huss is that, compared to many other fish, they grow sizeable.
- I had looked over the weeks to see what sort of prices things were going for and I thought my bid was about right.
2 [attributive] (Of a price) accepted or usual at the current time: people willing to work for the going rate...
- The fact it is priced at less than half the going rate for a CD single makes it both sublime and ridiculous.
- The standard response is that we must pay the going rate to get the right people.
- All employees work a minimum of 15 hours per week and are paid the going rate for the job.
Phrases
when the going gets tough, the tough get going