goods

A train carries goods across the countryside.

Definition

1. Noun (plural):
   • Items that can be bought or sold: "goods" refers to products or commodities that are traded, especially physical objects intended for sale.
   • Personal property: In legal contexts, "goods" can mean movable property (as opposed to real estate or land).
   • Freight or cargo: "goods" can also refer to items being transported by train, truck, or ship.

Usage Examples

• As trade items: (Various products for the home.)
• As cargo: (Freight or items being shipped.)
• As property: (Personal belongings or possessions.)

Advanced Usage

• "to deliver the goods": to fulfill a promise or expectation; to produce the desired result.

  • The new software really delivers the goods in terms of speed. (It performs as promised.)

• "a nice little piece of goods": an informal, often humorous phrase referring to an attractive person (usually a woman), now considered dated or offensive.

  • He was eyeing a nice little piece of goods at the party. (He was looking at an attractive woman.)

Variants and Related Words

• Good (adj): of a high quality or standard; virtuous.
  • This is a good product. (It is of high quality.)
• Goods (plural only): note that "goods" is always used in plural form; it has no singular form.

Synonyms

• Merchandise: items for sale in a shop.
• Commodities: raw materials or primary agricultural products that can be bought and sold.
• Cargo: goods carried by a ship, aircraft, or vehicle.
• Wares: goods for sale (often used for items sold by a street vendor or in a market).

Phrasal Verbs

• "goods" does not commonly appear in phrasal verbs, but it is used in fixed expressions.

Related Idioms

• "to deliver the goods": to achieve what is expected or required.

  • The team delivered the goods and won the championship. (They succeeded as expected.)

• "to have the goods on someone" (informal): to possess incriminating evidence about someone.

  • The detective had the goods on the suspect. (He had proof of wrongdoing.)

• "to be the goods" (slang): to be excellent or authentic.

  • That new restaurant is the goods. (It is very good.)