A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
nominal phrase dry run—a preliminary trial; a rehearsal for the
real attempt: There is long, hard planning, endless training,
repeated dry runs … behind undertakings of this magnitude.
go far • go far afield
go far —
1
. be successful, especially in one’s career: This band
is full of talent and will certainly go far. 2. (of food, money,
etc.) last long; be sufficient: A pound does not go so far today
as it did twenty years ago. 3. produce a certain effect; promote
smth.: The loan will go far towards overcoming our financial
troubles. 4. (negat.) undertake special efforts: One need not
go far to discover why African cultural elements persist so
strongly in post-slavery Cuba.
go far afield —
1
. go off the subject; digress from the line of
reasoning: Do not go far afield to review concepts on the
periphery of your talk. 2. = go far 4: Actually, we need not go
far afield to find a theory which is formally adequate to our
needs.
See also: be too far gone / go too far.
go fishing • gone fishing
go fishing —(U.S. sl., also: be on a fishing expedition) under-
take a search for facts (especially using improper methods):
When you’re involved in litigation, you’re almost inviting the
other side to go fishing through your ancient records.
gone fishing —(U.S. sl.) 
1
. said of a person unaccountably
absent from duty: President Bush hung out the “gone fishing”
sign at the White House on Friday and headed for a birthday
weekend. 2. be not in touch with the real world; have no idea
what is going on: This is not the first time he has “gone fishing”
in a big match. Even Liam Brady would have done better play-
ing last night.