goose-flesher
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A frightening or thrilling work of fiction.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
[…]the best thing to do is to curl up with a good goose-flesher and try to forget, and fortunately I had packed among my effects one called Murder at Greystone Grange.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “goose-flesher” mean?
A frightening or thrilling work of fiction.
Is “goose-flesher” formal or informal?
goose-flesher is generally slang.