goose
A large bird that lives near water, has a long neck, and flies in groups; the singular of ‘geese’.
A large, heavy-bodied waterbird with a long neck, related to ducks and swans, that lives near water and often flies in groups; also the general singular form of ‘geese’.
A person who is being silly or not thinking, usually said in a kind or joking way.
A silly or slightly foolish person, often said in a gentle, teasing, or affectionate way rather than as a serious insult.
To touch or poke someone’s bottom suddenly as a joke or to surprise them.
To quickly poke or grab someone on the buttocks, especially as a prank or to startle them.
To make something go up or become stronger quickly, often by giving it extra help or energy.
To cause something, such as a number, activity, or performance, to increase quickly, often by giving it extra energy, support, or attention.
The meat from a goose that people cook and eat.
The meat of a goose, used as food, especially when roasted and served as a special meal.
- Base: goose
- Plural: geese, goose
- Base: goose
- 3rd Person Singular: gooses
- Present Participle: goosing
- Past: goosed
cook someone's goose
1ruin someone’s plans or chances
To damage someone’s plans or chances so badly that they cannot succeed.
- Getting caught cheating really cooked his goose.
- If this scandal is true, it could cook the mayor’s goose.
golden goose
1person or thing bringing constant profit
A person or thing that brings a lot of money or other good results again and again.
- That movie franchise is the studio’s golden goose.
- They don’t want to lose their golden goose by changing the product too much.
goose bumps
1small bumps on skin from cold or fear
Small raised bumps on your skin that appear when you are cold, afraid, or feel a strong emotion.
- The scary movie gave me goose bumps.
- I got goose bumps when I stepped out into the cold air.
goose egg
1score of zero
A score or amount of zero, especially in sports or games.
- Our team put up a goose egg in the first half.
- The company posted a goose egg in profits last quarter.
goose pimples
1raised skin spots from cold or fear
Small raised bumps on your skin that you get when you are cold, afraid, or have a strong feeling; another term for goose bumps.
- The wind was so cold it gave me goose pimples.
- Her story was so sad it brought up goose pimples on my arms.
goose step
1stiff-legged military march
A type of military marching where soldiers keep their legs straight and lift them high as they walk.
- The soldiers goose step past the leader during the parade.
- The old newsreel showed troops doing the goose step.
loosey-goosey
1very relaxed or not strict
Very relaxed, free, or not strict, especially about rules or structure.
- The schedule is pretty loosey-goosey this weekend.
- The class was fun but a little too loosey-goosey for serious study.
mother goose
1imaginary figure for nursery rhymes
An imaginary old woman who is used as a name for many traditional stories and nursery rhymes for children.
- We read a collection of Mother Goose rhymes before bed.
- The book is called *My First Mother Goose*.
silly goose
1affectionate name for a silly person
A friendly, playful way to call someone silly or not thinking, often used with people you are close to.
- You forgot your phone again, you silly goose.
- Come on, you silly goose, of course I remembered your birthday.
the goose that laid the golden eggs
1valuable source that must not be ruined
A person or thing that gives you a lot of money or other benefits again and again, which you could lose if you push it too hard.
- Raising prices too fast might kill the goose that laid the golden eggs.
- For the company, this popular app is the goose that laid the golden eggs.
what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander
1same rules should apply to everyone
If one person can be treated in a certain way, then other people should be treated in the same way too.
- If she lost her job for that mistake, he should too—what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
- They argued that what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander when asking for equal pay.
wild-goose chase
1long, useless search for something
A long or difficult search for something that you will probably never find or that does not exist.
- Driving to three different stores looking for that toy was a wild-goose chase.
- He sent me on a wild-goose chase looking for a document that had already been deleted.