What does “that goes double” mean in English?

Why Australia’s Major Parties Are Losing Voters

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C1 English listening practice · Australian English · Picked for people who know a lot

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that goes double
Everyday English emphasis phrase
“That goes double” means what you just said is even more true in this new case — more force, not more numbers.

When someone says “that goes double,” they are not talking about the number two. They mean: what I said before is true — and now it is even more true here. You can use it to agree with someone or to add weight to your own point. It is a short, natural phrase that works in conversation, interviews, and everyday talk.

In the clip, a political analyst has just said that Australia’s shifting vote share is exciting news for election analysts. He then adds: “that goes double now that we are in an electoral universe that is utterly unrecognizable from the one that we’ve lived in all our lives.” He means his excitement is even stronger now, because the political world has changed so much. You hear the phrase in everyday situations too. A parent might tell two children: “No running inside — and that goes double near the stairs.” A coach might say before a final: “We always warm up. That goes double today.” The phrase usually comes right after a statement the speaker wants to strengthen, often introduced with “and” or “but.”

How common are the words?

How common are the words in this C1 English listening practice video?

90.9%
of words are in the top 2,000 most common English words
Most of the words in this video are common English words.

How common in written English

84.1%
Top 1,000
90.9%
Top 2,000
98.1%
Top 5,000

How common in spoken English

89.3%
Top 1,000
95.9%
Top 2,000
100%
Top 5,000
👄 Words for talking
This video uses words people often say in English.

Harder words in this video

These words are harder than C1. Here is what they mean.

electorally
1×
Not in top 5,000
related to voting
totality
1×
Not in top 5,000
the whole or entirety
radically new world electorally
1×
significantly changed political landscape

Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-US 2012 (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.

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