What does it mean "to go the extra mile"?

To go above and beyond the call of duty, to do more than is expected or asked of you, or to give extra effort in what you're doing, to make sure your job is done perfectly.

An adaptation of a commandment of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: “Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain” (two).

In ancient times, any soldier could demand a citizen to carry his load for up to a mile. It seemed a small price to pay since the soldier was there to defend your life (well your country's ruler's life, maybe), he may be really tired after coming back from a battle or saving his energy for the next one, etc. When Jesus spoke of how we should all love each other and of being nice, he spoke of going the extra mile. The first mile was compulsory, there's no love in that. But by going the extra mile you a: eliminate any arguments over whether it was really 0.999 miles or 1.001 miles and b: show you really do value the soldier.

When you really love people you do go the extra mile just to give them a 'happy surprise'.

56 more cents, for me.

To go above and beyond what is expected of you.

'going the extra mile' - doing something for someone beyond the norm in 'fair-weather' times. In service, if you go out of your way to help your customer - e.g. locate a product or service that he requires, and you hail a cab and then explain to the cabbie precisely where he needs to go to get the product or service, then you are going the extra mile. Do so will leave the customers so awfully excited, pleased and thankful. One trademark of 'going the extra mile' ? - the receiving party tends to remember you who has taken that 'extra effort' (positively).


I wrote some articles related to this phrase... care to read it? - http://effectivetraining.wordpress.com/looks-like-you-need-a-little-help/

adieu
John TanHS
http://effectivetraining.wordpress.com

When your husband asks for sex and you give him a quick b.j. first.

This refers to a law which gave a Roman soldier on the march the right to grab any passing Jewish citizen and demand that he carry his kit for a mile.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/55/messages/280.html

“Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain (two)."

Figuratively, to do more than what is needed.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=go+the+extra+mile&r=66

http://www.answers.com/go%20the%20extra%20mile

"(idiomatic) To make an extra effort; to do a particularly good job.
It's a small shop, but they really go the extra mile to help their customers."
Source:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/go_the_extra_mile

Compare this saying to a runner that never thought he could finish a 10K mile.

He gained his second wind and finished.

This is going the extra mile.

Its also like working 14 straight hours, dog tired, and on the way home, stopping to help an elderly person change a flat tire.

THIS is going the extra mile.

Not to just get something done and over with, but, to give it your very best effort.

That you really are lost and should turn around.

to make a special effort.

When you miss the last bus home..... that last mile is a killer, especially when you have had a few drinkie poos.

Kind of like helping someone to move and you help them pack all there things in boxes and help load into the U-Haul...the extra mile would be to help them unload the boxes and help sort things out. Above and beyond the call of duty.