From the Get-Go – Origin & Meaning

Photo of author

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

Idiomatic expressions have always added color to every language. In English, from the get-go is a well-known idiom you might have come across in books, movies or just regular conversations. But are you sure you’re using the term correctly? Let’s decode its meaning by looking at its origin and how to use it appropriately.

Right From the Get-Go: Meaning Explained

From the Get Go Origin Meaning

The idiom from the get-go is meant to signify the very beginning or start of a process or period. When someone uses this phrase, they’re referring to something that has been the case since the start.

“I’ve been madly in love with you from the get-go.” This statement implies that one person has loved the other since the day they met.

Is It From the Get-Go or Gecko?

In case you’ve ever heard someone say from the gecko, let’s get one thing straight. The correct term is from the get-go, and no, it’s got nada to do with the tiny, adorable reptiles.

From the get-go means from the beginning or from the start. Sorry, Geico Gecko, you’re not included in this expression!

Is Get-Go Slang?

Get-go might seem like slang because it’s informal and usually heard in spoken English. But it’s more accurate to categorize it as an idiomatic expression or colloquial phrase, which means it’s a casual language used mostly in conversational speech.

You could use it when chatting with co-workers or writing a book but try to avoid using it in an essay or technical document of any kind.

Is It From the Get Go or From the Get-Go?

Here’s another misconception to clarify: it’s from the get-go with a hyphen, not from the get go. The correct phrase includes a hyphen to join get and go to create a single term.

Origin of the Phrase From the Get-go

From the Get Go Ngram
From the get-go usage trend.

The idiom is fairly recent compared to other popular English idioms, popping up in the 1960s. It originated in the United States, with Black American vernacular, and was originally spelled as git-go, but it still holds the same meaning today.

From the Git Go Ngram
From the git-go usage trend.

One of its first recorded use was around the 1960s by Toni Cade Bambara, a writer who used it in a story.

From the Get-Go Synonyms

  • From the start
  • From the beginning
  • From the outset
  • From day one
  • Right off the bat

From the Get-Go Examples in a Sentence

From the Get Go Origin Meaning 1
  • I knew this was going to be a challenging project from the get-go, but I stuck with it, and now it’s a bestselling novel!
  • My daughter is a natural performer and captivated the audience from the get-go.
  • The marketing team was cohesive from the get-go, which led to the early success of the book.
  • From the get-go, it was obvious that the weekend-long book fair event was well-organized.
  • My parents have been involved in the housing project from the get-go.

Good Grammar From the Get-Go

Remember, this idiom means from the very beginning, not from the adorable gecko. Armed with this info, you can use from the get-go more accurately and confidently. And don’t forget that it’s not slang but is better kept in informal contexts.

Enjoyed reading about this phrase? Check out some others we covered: