go to great lengths to (do something)

to try very hard to achieve a result.

This champion marathon runner is going to great lengths to help needy children.

Both sides have gone to great lengths to emphasize areas of similarity in their proposals.

Related vocabulary: take great pains to do something

• nothing to sneeze at
• nothing to write home about
• Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
• not hold breath
• not hold liquor
• not hold water
• not hold your breath
• not hold your liquor
• not hurt a fly
• not if can help it
• not if you can help it
• not in a month of Sundays
• not in my wildest dreams
• not in the business of
• not in the business of doing something
• not in the least
• not in the same league
• not in the slightest
• not judge a book by its cover
• not know beans about
• not know beans about something
• not know from Adam
• not know if are coming or going
• not know if you are coming or going
• not know someone from Adam