It can indicate the consequence of not doing something, too.
Like in : "Portez un masque! Il y va de la vie des plus fragiles".
It is then equivalent to "to be at stake", as I understand it.
EDIT : As pointed by jlliagre, the use of "y aller de" in my answer doesn’t match the definition from the OP question.
Regarding that definition, I have to say that I find it unclear, even being a native french speaker.
This definition is slightly confusing, even for a native speaker.
A better clue can be found by looking to the TLFi that says:
Fam. Y aller de qqc. Entreprendre une certaine action :
35. Lacretelle me disait : « Allez-y ! Nommez-vous. Allez-y d’une dédicace… » A. Gide, Journal, 1930, p. 966.
where y aller de is used at the imperative: allez-y de…
The meaning is close to "go for it", "go ahead and do it".
Here are examples matching the definitions given by the Larousse:
- engager une certaine somme :
J’y vais de 5 francs ! → I’m betting 5 Francs on it. (outdated)
- produire quelque chose comme contribution :
Il y va encore de son discours habituel → He brings us again his usual speech.
Note that there is another y aller de expression that is not informal and shouldn’t be confused with the one just mentioned, e.g. Il y va de mon honneur. With that second expression, the pronoun il is impersonal. It doesn’t represent anything/anyone. Both other replies so far are partially or totally about that other phrase.
See this question for its frequent confusion with en aller de.
I Contribution
The most common expresssion using that phrase might perhaps be "y aller de sa/leur/notre/… poche" .
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(fixed phrase) Il a dû y aller de sa poche et a réglé l’addition. → He had to stump up for the check.
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(fixed phrase) D’habitude ils y vont de leur personne. → Usually they take a hand in it themselves. (Harrap’s)
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Il y est allé d’une bouteille. → He stood us a bottle. (Harrap’s)
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Il y va de ses économies pour payer les études de son fils. → He sacrifices his savings to pay for his son’s studies. (Harrap’s)
An indefinite number of sentences can be produced by using other noun phrases or expressions than "une bouteille", "ses économies" 30 euros, un bouquet de fleurs, etc.
II Drive, Energy
Nevertheless, "y aller de" is not only used for meanings implying a contribution. Another important context is that of the manner of engaging oneself into an action, an activity. A first common expression is "y aller de tout son cœur".
- (fixed phrase) Il y est allé de tout son cœur. → He put his whole heart into it. (Harrap’s)
Another one is "y aller de toutes ses/sa force(s)". (Harrap’s)
- Il y est allé de toute ses forces. → He went at it for all he was worth.
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