not go far

not go far

To not last for very long; to not be adequate for what is needed. I think you should have brought more cash—$50 doesn't go far in this city! All the aunts, uncles, and cousins will be coming, so I think one pot of chili won't go far.
See also: far, go, not
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

not go ˈfar


1 (of money) not be enough to buy a lot of things: $20 doesn’t go very far these days.
2 (of a supply of something) not be enough for what is needed: One loaf won’t go far among ten people.
See also: far, go, not
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • not for a second
  • not for a minute
  • not for a moment
  • not exactly
  • not all there
  • aint
  • ain't
  • not for a instant
  • not for a/one minute/moment/second/instant
  • (I) hope not
References in classic literature
"Just so, but under these conditions the man is not at liberty; he is attached to the pump which sends him air through an india-rubber tube, and if we were obliged to be thus held to the Nautilus, we could not go far."
"But it seems to me that in this twilight, and in the midst of this fluid, which is very dense compared with the atmosphere, shots could not go far, nor easily prove mortal."
He was a bright and clear intelligence, and if his light did not go far, it is to be said of him that his worst fault was only to have stopped short of the finest truth in art, in morals, in politics.
We were just getting started, and we could not go far in a single generation.
We did not go far. Possibly at no time were we more than a hundred yards from the trees.
She said she would not go far, and would call at the haunted house once a month for her money.
We durst not go far from our bark, and therefore were obliged to a toilsome march along the windings of the shore, sometimes clambering up rocks, and sometimes wading through the sands, so that we were every moment in the utmost danger of falling from the one, or sinking in the other.
He did not go far; Master Will Jobson, dwelling in Piccadilly, listened to his propositions, comprehended his wishes, and promised to make him a safety lock that should relieve him from all future fear.
But talks about further integration may not go far without and unless the simmering differences among member states are resolved.
However, AdVic feels the Bill does not go far enough and it wants any person convicted or pleading guilty to killing someone to be denied bail.
The companies, along with businesses and industry bodies, say the proposed platform-to-business law does not go far enough in protecting them against U.S.
YOUR article on rising gas and electricity charges does not go far enough.
gross domestic product growth will remain anemic, at 2.1%; unemployment will not go far, finishing at around five percent; U.S.
LGBT charity Stonewall Cymru said the new proposals do not go far enough.
However, the committee said that did not go far enough.