Meaning trap
go over
be received
To be accepted, perceived, or reacted to in a particular way by others, especially in terms of approval, popularity, or response.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To be accepted, perceived, or reacted to in a particular way by others, especially in terms of approval, popularity, or response.
'go over' also has the more basic meaning 'review carefully'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
Her proposal didn't go over well with the board, so they decided to postpone the project.
If new government policies do not go over well with the public, officials may face significant backlash and pressure to reconsider their approach.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: The joke went over good.
Say: The joke went over well.
Use the adverb 'well' (not 'good'), often as 'go over well/badly with + people'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Go over (well/badly)' is the idiomatic way to talk about how something was received. The formal passive is stiff.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
go over + well/badly
- well
- badly
- like a charm
- with the crowd
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- go over (check or explain carefully) — 'go over' also has the more basic meaning 'review carefully'; this is the advanced sense.