about "Get a long way toward"

[english-learner]

What does " go a long way toward" mean in this context? Thanks!

MALLORY
Why?

SAM
Well, if I could make eye contact with her, make her laugh, you know, just see that she has a good time, it might go a long way toward making my life easier.


MALLORY
These children worked hard. All of them. And I’m not inclined at this moment to make your life easier.

[Marylin]

[QUOTE=english-learner]What does " go a long way toward" mean in this context? Thanks!

make a lot of headway, go forward with something.

[english-learner]

Thanks Marylin. Can you give some examples about this phrase?

[Marylin]

Thanks Marylin. Can you give some examples about this phrase?

Reading, writing and converstanional exercises will go a long way towrds my fluency in English.
Proper diet and a lot of exercise goes a long way towards staying in shape.
Fighting terrorism, poverty and hunger goes a long way towards finding peace and prosperity among nations.

[reisali]

Proper diet and a lot of exercise goes a long way towards staying in shape.
Fighting terrorism, poverty and hunger goes a long way towards finding peace and prosperity among nations.

Shouldn't "Goes" be "Go", in the first sentence because there are two subjects?

Thanks, and if I am mistaken, please explain why.

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[queenbu]

I'm also waiting for Marilyn's answer re 'Proper diet and a lot of .....'

[HCaulfield]

I've heard both, but grammatically, your suggestion seems to be the appropriate way to go. Two subjects ---> Verb in plural form

[Tdol]

It depends on whether you see them as two separted things or a single unit, so different users might use the singular and plural differently. Personally, I'd use the plural.