go to (the) town

Question

I know the difference in meaning between go to school, church, bed etc and go to the school, the church, the bed etc.

But what's the difference between go to town and go to the town?

Thank you very much for your reply.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I know the difference in meaning between go to school ....and go to the school...

But what's the difference between go to town and go to the town?

It's really the same kind of explanation.

Best wishes, Clive

Philip · Answer

TeoI know the difference in meaning between go to school, church, bed etc and go to the school, the church, the bed etc.

But what's the difference between go to town and go to the town?

Thank you very much for your reply.

There is a colloquial use of 'go to town' that means that something is done with great vigor, enthusiasm, excietment. "When the band started playing, they really went to town." "After the half-time show, the football team really went to town."

Paco2004 · Answer

Google gives following results:
"went to town/the town and bought …" : 1080/117
"went to village/the village and bought …" : 3/117
"went to city/the city and bought …" : 30/291
"went to market/the market and bought …" : 187/502

The usage of "town" looks special when compared with those of other place words. OED says as follows:
Without article, after prepositions and verbs, as in, out of, to town, to leave town, etc.: i.e. the particular town under consideration, or that in or near which the speaker is at the moment; the town with which one has to do, the market-town, the chief town of the district or province, the capital; in England since c 1700 spec. said of London.

paco

go to (the) town

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