Git-go
/ˌɡɪtˈɡoʊ/
nounB2
Definition
"Git-go" is an informal way to say the very beginning or starting point of an action, event, or process. People often use it in the phrase "from the git-go," which means from the very first moment something happens.
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See It in Action
The very beginning or first moment of something
- •She was nervous from the git-go of the competition.
- •The project had problems from the git-go.
- •They agreed on the rules from the git-go.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "git-go" like "start" (A1 word), but with a casual, friendly feeling and more emphasis on the exact first moment.
- ✓Picture a race where the runners stand still, then the gun fires, and they all begin at the same instant—that moment is the "git-go."
- ✓It's the feeling when you begin a new game or project and everything starts fresh and new.
- ✓Sounds like "get-go" → imagine someone saying "get going" quickly at the start of an activity.
- ✓Remember the phrase "from the git-go," like a coach telling players to do their best from the very beginning.
- ✓NOT like "middle" or "end"—git-go is only about the start.
- ✓NOT like "progress" or "process" which happen over time—git-go is the exact start point.
Try Other Words
- •Beginning: the first part or point in time (Use when you want a more formal or clear word)
- •Start: the point at which something begins (Use in most general situations)
- •Outset: the start of an event or action (Use in more formal or written English)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: Possibly a variation of "get-go," combining "get" (to begin) and "go" (to move or start)
- •Etymology: Originates from American English slang, popular in the 20th century, meaning the moment to start moving or acting
- •Historical development: "Get-go" first appeared in the 1950s in informal speech, with "git-go" as a variant spelling/pronunciation
- •Modern usage: Mostly used in informal speech and writing, especially in the phrase "from the git-go" to mean from the very start
Reflect & Connect
•How does using informal words like "git-go" change the tone of a conversation compared to formal words like "beginning"?
•Can you think of situations where knowing the exact "git-go" of something is very important?
Fill in the blanks
1.The team had problems with the plan from the git-go, so they had to ___ it.
2.She was excited and ready to work hard from the git-go, showing her ___.
3.Unlike problems that appear later, these issues were there from the git-go, meaning they started ___.
4.The phrase "from the git-go" means from the ___ moment of an event.
5.When the project failed from the git-go, the managers knew they had to ___ their approach.
6.He gave clear instructions from the git-go to avoid any ___.
7.If something is difficult from the git-go, it means it was hard right from the ___, not later.