From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishgo to the countrygo to the countryBritish EnglishPGP if a prime minister goes to the country, they ask for a general election to be held → country
Examples from the Corpus
go to the country• So, it should strike while the iron is hot and go to the country as soon as possible.• Attlee went to the country over the issue and lost the general election of October 1951.• And yet Callaghan very nearly did go to the country late in 1978.• So, anyway, I went to the country.• I've had my orders. l m going to the country for a while, to merry Mytchett Place.• Individuals possess conveyances to go to the country. 