Meaning of "from the word go"

[Gabi]

Test No. express/advan-14 "Word of Mouth", question 7

From the word go we could tell at the interview she was the ideal candidate for the job.

(a) Quickly
(b) Suddenly
(c) Straightaway
(d) Clearly

Test No. express/advan-14 "Word of Mouth", answer 7

Straightaway we could tell at the interview she was the ideal candidate for the job.

Correct answer: (c) Straightaway
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meaning of "from the word go"

Gabi

[Alan]

This expression from the word go means immediately.
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[Haihao]

Hi Alan,

I chose d) because I thought from the word go = from the begining and if it were so only d) could be the right choice. Could you explain for me why the idiom could mean immediately as well?

Thank you.
haihao

[Mister Micawber]

.
D (Clearly) does not mean 'from the beginning' or 'from the word go', Haihao. Clearly means without doubt or question.

from the word go: from the start, as in 'I've had trouble with this computer from the word go'. This expression probably alludes to the start of a race, signaled by the word go. [Early 1800s] For a synonym, see 'from scratch'. (Am Heritage Dict.)

Straightaway and immediately also mean 'from the beginning' in the sense of 'directly upon the start of e.g. interview' (as here).
.
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber

[Haihao]

Thank you, Mister Micawber, for your interpretation, especially the derivation of the idiom, which is always what I want to know badly.

haihao

[Alan]

Hi,

Just to add another point to what has already been said by MM at the start of a race the runners in the race receive the following information: Ready, steady, go!
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