goldfinches
Sovereigns. Similar to Canaries.
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Goldfish Club
World War II. It is similar to the Caterpillar Club (<?.v.) and is for those who had ditched their aeroplanes and taken to the rubber dinghy. A cloth insignia was presented.
golf widow
A person whose spouse spends excessive time playing golf
golgotha
A hat.
golgotha
A hat, "place of a skull." Hence the "Don’s gallery," at St. Mary’s, Cambridge, and that part of the theatre at Oxford where the heads of houses sit.
gollumpus
A large, clumsy fellow.
golopshus
Splendid, delicious, luscious.—Norwich.
Gombeen Man
A village usurer; a money- lender. The word is of Irish extraction.
gonce
Money.
gonchies
underpants
gone case
Beyond help or repair
gone fishing
not available or working, often due to a deliberate choice
gone north about
completely failed or gone wrong
gone to pot
Ruined, gone to the bad. The allusion is to the pot into which bits of already cooked meat are cast prior to their making their last appearance as hash.
gone to the hammer
Applied to goods sent to a sale by auction; the auctioneer giving a rap with a small hammer when a lot is sold, to intimate that there is an end to the bidding, hence to sell under the hammer.
gone with the wind
Lost or destroyed, often suddenly or irretrievably
goneski
gone
gonk out
To sleep.
Gonnella's Horse
Gonnella, the domestic jester of the Duke of Ferrara, rode on a horse all skin and bone. The jests of Gonnella are in print.
gonnof
An expert thief, a master of his craft; one of the greatest compliments a London pickpocket can pay another is to say, "he’s a reglar GONNOF."—See GUN. The word GONNOF is very old. During Kett’s rebellion in Norfolk, in the reign of Edward VI., a song was sung by the insurgents in which the term occurs—
goober-grabbler
A Georgian.
good and
completely or thoroughly
good and evil
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
good and plenty
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
good at something
Skilled or proficient in a particular activity
good blood always shows itself
A person's true character will eventually be revealed
good books
Moral and respectable people
good boy
a well-behaved person
good clothes open all doors
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
good coin
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
good doctor
a doctor who is skilled and caring
good doctors
Skilled and effective medical practitioners
good drunk
Someone who behaves well when intoxicated
Good Duke Humphrey
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (1391-1447), youngest son of Henry IV, said to have been murdered by Suffolk and Cardinal Beaufort (Shakespeare: 2 Henry VI, iii, 2); so called because of his devotion to the Church.
good eating deserves good drinking
Fine food should be accompanied by fine drink
good egg
A kind and trustworthy person
good enough for government work
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
good enough for jazz
Satisfactory or acceptable, even if not perfect
good enough to eat
Attractive or appealing, often used to describe someone or something charming
good fences make good neighbours
Clear boundaries promote good relationships
good for somebody
beneficial or advantageous to someone
Good Friday
The Friday preceding Easter Day, held as the anniversary of the Crucifixion. "Good" here means holy; Christmas, as well as Shrove Tuesday, used to be called "the good tide.
good girl
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
good God
Used to express shock or surprise
good graces
In someone's favor or approval
good gracious
An expression of surprise or shock
good head on one's shoulders
Having common sense and good judgment
good job
Expression of approval or praise for someone's work
good laws have sprung from bad customs
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
good life
A life of happiness and prosperity
good looker
A person who is physically attractive
good luck
Wishing someone success or good fortune
good man
A word of various imports, according to the place where it is spoken: in the city it means a rich man; at Hockley in the Hole, or St. Giles's, an expert boxer; at a bagnio in Covent Garden, a vigorous fornicator; at an alehouse or tavern, one who loves his pot or bottle; and sometimes, though but rarely, a virtuous man
good men are hard to find
Decent and reliable men are scarce
good news
Information that is pleasing or welcome
good old days
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
good or bad
Regardless of whether something is positive or negative
Good Regent
James Stewart, Earl of Moray (d. 1570), a natural son of James V and half- brother of Mary Queen of Scots. He was appointed Regent of Scotland after the imprisonment of Queen Mary.
Good riding at two anchors, men have told, for if the one fails, the other may hold. (Strauss, 1994 p. 879)
Having two sources of support or security is better than one
good run
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
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