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go the long way

[/ɡoʊ ðə lɔŋ weɪ/]
verb phrase
ir pelo caminho mais longo
1. To travel or proceed via a longer or more indirect route instead of taking the shortest path
We decided to go the long way to enjoy the scenic views.
Decidimos ir pelo caminho mais longo para apreciar as vistas panorâmicas.
2. To take an indirect or circuitous approach to accomplish something; to avoid directness
Instead of asking directly, he went the long way around to get the information.
Em vez de perguntar diretamente, ele deu a volta longa para obter a informação.
Synonyms
take the scenic routego around the long waygo by the long routetake an indirect pathgo the roundabout way
Antonyms
take the short waygo the direct routego as the crow fliestake the shortcut

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
ir pelo caminho mais longo
Standard usage across Brazil
São Paulo
pegar a volta
More colloquial variation
Portugal
ir pela volta
Common in European Portuguese

Related Idioms & Phrases

go around the houses
beat around the bush
take the scenic route
go round in circles
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