Antonyms for "went for the gold" include settled for less, gave up, quit, surrendered, and relinquished. These terms suggest a lack of ambition, determination, and persistence to achieve one's goals. Instead of pursuing excellence and pushing oneself to the limit, settling for less denotes a willingness to accept mediocrity and failure. Giving up and quitting both convey a sense of defeat and helplessness, while surrendering and relinquishing imply that one has lost ownership of their dreams and aspirations. These antonyms serve as a reminder that success requires effort, perseverance, and the courage to chase after one's dreams without fear of failure.