WordVale

go the extra mile

to make more effort than expected

In Idioms & Sayings

In more detail

to make more effort than necessary to help someone or achieve something; to do more than what is required or expected

Examples

• She went the extra mile to help her student succeed by offering extra tutoring sessions.

How to use go the extra mile

This idiom is used to describe someone's willingness to exert additional effort beyond what is typically required or expected. It has a positive connotation and is common in professional, personal, and service contexts where commitment and dedication are valued. The phrase is slightly more informal and motivational than its synonym 'exceed expectations,' which may sound more analytical.

Register: informal

Common phrases

• go the extra mile for someone
• go the extra mile to achieve something
• willing to go the extra mile
• go the extra mile in customer service
• go the extra mile for a cause

Synonyms

go above and beyond · exceed expectations · go out of one's way · pull out all the stops · make an extra effort

Opposites

do the bare minimum · cut corners

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use this phrase in negative contexts (e.g., 'He didn't go the extra mile') when the idiom itself is neutral in form but typically carries positive intent; clarity requires explicit negation.

Nearby in Idioms & Sayings

miss the boat, on the fence, throw in the towel, cry over spilled milk, the last straw, a dime a dozen

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained