what's good for the goose is good for the gander
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Literally, what is good for a female goose is equally good for a male goose (gander); or, what is good for a woman should be equally good for a man.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
If something is good for one person, it should be equally good for another person; someone who treats another in a certain way should not complain if the same is done to them.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “what's good for the goose is good for the gander” mean?
Literally, what is good for a female goose is equally good for a male goose (gander); or, what is good for a woman should be equally good for a man.
Is “what's good for the goose is good for the gander” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.