Good Samaritan
A person who helps others in need without expecting reward
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good sense
Sound judgment or practical wisdom
Good swimmers are often drowned. (Strauss, 1994 p. 879)
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
good talk saves the food
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
good thing
a fortunate or welcome circumstance
good things come to those who wait
Patience is often rewarded with desirable outcomes
good time
An expressive phrase, which means all earthly bliss to the American mind. The finest reminiscence a Yankee can have is that of a GOOD TIME, wherever it may have been spent. No moderate amount of happiness is ever recorded in the register which denotes how often its possessor has "had a GOOD TIME."
good times
Enjoyable and pleasant experiences
good turn
A kind or helpful act
good value
Something that is worth the money spent on it
good voice to beg bacon
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
good wine needs no bush
A good article will make itself known without being puffed. An ivy-bush (anciently sacred to Bacchus) was once the common sign of taverns, and especi- ally of private houses where beer or wine could be obtained by travellers.
good woman
A nondescript, represented on a famous sign in St. Giles's, in the form of a common woman, but without a head.
good-ass
Very good.
good-time Charlie
A person who likes to have fun and enjoy themselves, often at the expense of others.
Goodman of Ballengeich
The assumed name of James V of Scotland when he made his disguised visits through the country districts around Edinburgh and Stirling, after the fashion of Haroun-al-Rascmd, Louis XI, etc.
Goodman's Croft
The name given in Scotland to a strip of ground or corner of a field left untilled, in the belief that unless some such place were left, the spirit of evil would damage the crop. Here Goodman is a propitiatory euphemism for the devil.
goodness and light
Moral virtue and righteousness
goodness gracious
An expression of surprise or shock
goodness gracious me
An expression of surprise or shock
goodness me
An expression of surprise or shock
goodnight Irene
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
goods
In the sporting world, men or horses. A horse or man of exceptionable quality is called "good GOODS," and a backer will speak of either as being in his opinion "best GOODS," as compared with others in the race.
Goodwin Sands
It is said that these dangerous sandbanks, stretching about 10 miles NE. and SW. some 5£ miles off the Kentish coast, consisted at one time of about 4,000 acres of low land (Lomea, the Infera Insula of the Romans) fenced from the sea by a wall, and belonging to Earl Godwin.
Goodwood Races
So called from the park in which they are held. They begin the last Tuesday of July, and last four days, the chief being Thursday, called the "Cup Day." These races are held in a private park, the property of the Duke of Richmond. The racecourse is one of the oddest shaped in the world, with a curious loop at the end of the 5-furlong gallop. The course of the Goodwood Cup is 2 miles 5 furlongs.
Goody Two-shoes
This nursery tale first appeared in 1765. It was written for John Newbery (1713-67), the originator of children's books, probably by Oliver Goldsmith.
goodyer's pig
Like Goodyer's pig; never well but when in mischief.
goof
A rapist.
goog
An egg.
googie
An egg.
goon squad
a group of people hired to intimidate or harm others
goon stick
The penis.
goose
A taylor's goose; a smoothing iron used to press down the seams, for which purpose it must be heated: hence it is a jocular saying, that a taylor, be he ever so poor, is always sure to have a goose at his fire. He cannot say boh to a goose; a saying of a bashful or sheepish fellow.
goose
A tailor’s pressing iron. Originally a slang term, but now in most dictionaries.
goose fair
A fair formerly held in many English towns about the time of Michaelmas (q.v.), when geese were plentiful. That still held at Nottingham was the most important.
goose riding
A goose, whose neck is greased, being suspended by the legs to a cord tied to two trees or high posts, a number of men on horseback, riding full speed, attempt to pull off the head: which if they effect, the goose is their prize. This has been practised in Derbyshire within the memory of persons now living.
goose step
A form of military marching in which the legs are moved only from the hips, the knees being kept rigid, each leg being swung as high as possible. It was never popular in the British army, where it was introduced as a form of recruit drill in the late 18th century. In a modified form it still exists in the slow march.
Goose, gander and gosling are three sounds but one thing. (Strauss, 1994 p. 104)
Different aspects are essentially the same thing
gooseberry
He played up old gooseberry among them; said of a person who, by force or threats, suddenly puts an end to a riot or disturbance.
gooseberry
To "play up old GOOSEBERRY" with any one, to defeat or silence a person in a quick or summary manner.
gooseberry eye
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
gooseberry pudding
A woman.
gooseberry season
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
gooseberry tart
Heart.
gooseberry-eyed
One with dull grey eyes, like boiled gooseberries.
gooseberry-pickers
Sharp children, who are ostensibly placed in charge of their elder sisters, when the latter go out shopping, but who are in reality a check on any chance of flirtation.
goosecap
A silly fellow or woman.
goosecap
A simpleton, a booby, or noodle.—Devonshire.
gooser
A settler, or finishing blow.
gorbals kiss
A headbutt.
Gordian Knot
A great difficulty. Gordius, a peasant, being chosen king of Phrygia, dedicated his wagon to Jupiter, and fastened the yoke to a beam with a rope of bark so ingeniously that no one could untie it. Alexander was told that "whoever undid the knot would reign over the whole East." "Well then," said the conqueror, "it is thus I perform the task," and, so saying, he cut the knot in- twain with his sword.
Gordon Riots
Riots in 1780, headed by Lord George Gordon, to compel the House or Commons to repeal the bill passed in 1778 for the relief of Roman Catholics.
goree
Money, chiefly gold: perhaps from the traffic carried on at that place, which is chiefly for gold dust. CANT.
gorg
gorgeous
gorge
Gorgeous.
gorge
To eat in a ravenous manner. "Rotten GORGERS" are those hungry lads who hang about Covent Garden Market, and devour the discarded fruit.
gorger
A gentleman. A well dressed man. Mung kiddey. Mung the gorger; beg child beg, of the gentleman.
gorger
A swell, a well-dressed, or gorgeous man—probably derived from the latter adjective. Sometimes used to denote an employer, or principal, as the manager of a theatre.
Gorham Controversy
This arose out of the refusal (1848) of the bishop of Exeter to institute the Rev. Cornelius Gorham to the vicarage of Brampford Speke, "because he held unsound views on the doctrine of bap- tism.'* After two years* controversy, the Privy Council decided in favour of Mr. Gorham.
gorilla in the room
An obvious problem or issue that nobody wants to discuss
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