1841. Punch, Vol. I., p. 11, c. 1. Waiter, a go of Brett’s best alcohol.
1849. Thackeray, Hoggarty Diamond, ch. ii. Two more chairs, Mary, two more tumblers, two more hot waters, and two more goes of gin!
1850. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, p. 54. Drinking alternate goes of gin and water with a dustman for the purpose of insinuating myself into the affections of Miss Cinderella Smut, his interesting sister.
1853. Diogenes, Vol. II., p. 271. Shall I spend it in theatres? shows? In numerous alcohol goes?
1870. Figaro, 28 May. Their musical performances are evidently inspired by goes of gin.
1883. Echo, 7 Feb., p. 4, c. 3. Witness asked him what he had been drinking. He replied, ‘Two half-goes of rum hot and a half-pint of beer.’
2. (colloquial).—An incident; an occurrence: e.g., a rum go = a strange affair, or queer start; a pretty go = a startling business; a capital go = a pleasant business.
1803. Kenney, Raising the Wind, i., 3. Ha! ha! ha! Capital go, isn’t it?
1820. Jack Randall’s Diary. Gemmen (says he), you all well know The joy there is whene’er we meet; It’s what I call the primest go, And rightly named, ’tis—quite a treat.
1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 251. A considerable bustle and shuffling of feet was then heard upon the stage, accompanied by whispers of ‘Here’s a pretty go!—what’s to be done?’