go the extra mile

• Possibly from the gospel of Matthew ch.5: v.41

  "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain."

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɡəʊ ði ˈɛk.stɹə ˈmaɪl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɡoʊ ði ˈɛk.stɹə ˈmaɪl/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (AU)

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go the extra mile

1. (idiomatic) To make an extra effort; to do a particularly good job.
   • 1982 April 21, Steven R. Weisman, "Reagan Vows To Go ‘Extra Mile’ to Get Accord on Budget," New York Times (retrieved 29 July 2012):

     President Reagan pledged at a news conference today “to go the extra mile” to compromise with Democrats.

   • 2006 Sept. 7, Tony Karon, "Why Iran Has the Upper Hand in the Nuclear Showdown," Time:

     The international community demands that Iran go the extra mile to satisfy concerns over its atomic energy program.

• bend over backwards
• go out of one's way