Skip to learning
Practice

THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Go out of your way

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

Make a special effort to do something, especially to help someone.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. The receptionist went out of her way to find us a quiet room.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

Make a special effort to do something, especially to help someone.
Show the answer

Go out of your way — Make a special effort to do something, especially to help someone.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Go out of your way” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

Make a special effort to do something, especially to help someone.

Compare: The receptionist went out of her way to find us a quiet room.

Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

GO DEEPER

More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use this conversational expression to acknowledge effort beyond what was convenient or expected. It is particularly useful when thanking someone.

More examples in context

  • You don’t need to go out of your way to collect me; I can take the bus.
  • Our neighbours go out of their way to include new residents.

Usage note

Use “go out of your way to” followed by a verb. Change the possessive with the subject. The effort need not involve travelling along a different route.

A short conversation

A: Did the staff help with your lost bag?
B: Yes, they went out of their way to contact every driver.
A: That was thoughtful of them.

One more practice question

Who goes out of their way to help?

A. Someone who refuses to make any effort.
B. Someone who rearranges their plans to give useful assistance.

Check your answer

B. Rearranging plans to help shows a special effort.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

Share this idiom