We love geese for their boldness, playful honks, and amazing migratory journeys. But did you know these birds are also unsung heroes in the world of phrases? Geese have inspired many idioms and expressions, adding a unique touch to our language. Here’s a collection of goose phrases that capture the wisdom and spirit of our feathered friends.
20 Most Common Goose Phrases
Wild Goose Chase
Meaning: A futile or hopeless pursuit of something that is difficult or impossible to achieve.
Examples:
- Searching for the missing key in that enormous junkyard felt like a wild goose chase.
- The rumors about hidden treasure led them on a wild goose chase through the forest, only to find nothing.
Goose on the Loose
Meaning: A playful or chaotic situation caused by someone or something being out of control or behaving unpredictably.
Examples:
- The puppy running around the house knocking things over was like a goose on the loose!
- The escaped bird caused chaos in the market, flapping around wildly like a goose on the loose.
Not Say Boo to a Goose
Meaning: Describes someone who is extremely timid, shy, or unlikely to confront or challenge others.
Examples:
- Despite his tall and intimidating appearance, he wouldn’t say boo to a goose and avoid any kind of confrontation.
- She’s so quiet and gentle that she wouldn’t say boo to a goose, even if someone cut in front of her in line.
Goose Up
Meaning: To raise or increase something, especially in a way that is unexpected or unconventional; sometimes used to describe exaggerating or inflating something.
Example:
- The salesman tried to goose up the price of the car by adding unnecessary extras.
- The excitement of the crowd was goosed up by the surprise performance from the band.
The Goose Hangs High
Meaning: A situation where things are going well, often implying that the future looks promising or that a person is in a good position.
Example:
- After securing the promotion, the goose hangs high for John—everything’s looking up for him.
- With the project on track and deadlines met, the goose hangs high for the team this quarter.
Gone Goose
Meaning: An expression used to describe something or someone that is irretrievably lost, beyond recovery, or in a hopeless situation.
Examples:
- After the fire, the house was gone goose—nothing could be saved.
- Once the evidence was destroyed, the case was gone goose, and there was no way to prove his innocence.
Sauce for the Goose
Meaning: A saying that implies what is good for one person should also be applied to another, especially when it comes to fairness or consistency. The phrase is used to suggest that if something is acceptable for one party, it should be equally acceptable for others in similar circumstances.
Example:
- If you’re going to criticize me for being late, then sauce for the goose—don’t forget you’ve been late too!
- The boss was strict about deadlines, and while it was tough, she reminded us that what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Golden Goose
Meaning: A valuable or highly profitable source of income or advantage, often referring to a sustainable and reliable source of wealth or success.
Example:
- The new app became their golden goose, generating millions in revenue with minimal marketing.
- The family-owned bakery was the golden goose of the neighborhood, cherished by locals for its fresh pastries.
Cook Someone’s Goose
Meaning: To ruin someone’s plans or chances of success, often deliberately; to defeat or thwart someone’s efforts.
Examples:
- His attempt to cheat during the final exam really cooked his goose, and he failed the class.
- The competitor’s underhanded tactics in the race cooked her goose, as she was disqualified for breaking the rules.
Recommended: 35+ Duck Phrases and Their Quacklingly Clever Meanings
Goose Bumps
Meaning: Small raised areas on the skin caused by cold or strong emotional reactions such as fear, excitement, or awe.
Example: The eerie music in the haunted house gave me goose bumps as I walked through the dark corridors.
What a Silly Goose
Meaning: A lighthearted or playful expression used to describe someone who is acting foolish, playful, or behaving in a silly or silly manner.
Example:
- You forgot your keys again? What a silly goose!
- Oh, you made a joke during the meeting? What a silly goose you are!
Turn Geese into Swans
Meaning: To transform something or someone from ordinary or unremarkable into something elegant, impressive, or exceptional, often through effort or improvement.
Examples:
- With a little training and guidance, the coach was able to turn the geese into swans, turning the underdog team into champions.
- She worked tirelessly to turn her small business into swans, creating a brand known for luxury and quality.
All His Geese Are Swans
Meaning: An expression used to describe someone who has an overly idealized or exaggerated view of their own possessions, achievements, or the people around them, often seeing everything as perfect or superior when it may not be.
Examples:
- He always brags about his kids as if all his geese are swans, but they’re not as perfect as he makes them sound.
- She’s convinced that all her geese are swans, never acknowledging the challenges she faces in her business.
Get Goose Flesh
Meaning: Another term for goose bumps, referring to the small, raised bumps on the skin caused by cold, fear, or strong emotions like excitement or awe.
Examples:
- The sudden sound of the thunder made me get goose flesh, even though I was indoors.
- The horror movie’s twist ending gave everyone in the theater goose flesh, as they jumped in surprise.
Loose as a Goose
Meaning: A phrase used to describe someone who is carefree, relaxed, or behaving in a silly or uninhibited manner, often suggesting a lack of restraint or caution.
Examples:
- After the long week at work, she was finally loose as a goose at the weekend party, dancing without a care.
- He was loose as a goose during the vacation, always making spontaneous decisions and enjoying every moment.
Kill the Goose That Lays the Golden Eggs
Meaning: To destroy or ruin a source of continual profit, success, or benefit, often through greed or short-sighted actions.
Examples:
- The company decided to cut costs by downsizing, but they might be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs by losing their top-performing employees.
- His reckless spending habits eventually killed the goose that lays the golden eggs, and he found himself broke after squandering his fortune.
A Wild Goose Never Laid a Tame Egg
Meaning: This phrase suggests that something or someone with wild or uncontrollable characteristics will not produce tame, predictable, or domesticated results. It’s used to emphasize the inherent nature of a person or situation, implying that you can’t expect something calm or orderly from something or someone inherently chaotic or unpredictable.
Example:
- Trying to make him follow a strict routine is like trying to get a wild goose to lay a tame egg—he’s just not that kind of person.
- Their company culture is too spontaneous; it’s clear a wild goose never laid a tame egg. You’ll never get rigid organization there.
The Old Woman is Plucking Her Goose
Meaning: A situation where someone is gradually losing something valuable or being taken advantage of, often relating to financial or personal matters. Yu can use the phrase to describe a person who is experiencing a loss or decline, usually in a subtle or ongoing way.
Example:
- After the company’s repeated layoffs, it felt like the old woman was plucking her goose, as they continued to lose valuable employees.
- She noticed the bills piling up and realized the old woman was plucking her goose—her savings were being slowly drained by unnecessary expenses.