goose
/gu:s/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A type of waterfowl: A goose is a web-footed, long-necked, typically gregarious bird, often larger and less aquatic than a duck. Geese are known for their migratory habits.
- The flesh of this bird as food: Goose refers to the meat from this bird, which can be from domestic or wild varieties.
- A foolish or incompetent person (slang): Informally, a goose can mean a silly, stupid, or incompetent man.
Verb:
- To poke or pinch someone's buttocks (slang): To goose someone means to give them a quick poke or pinch, especially on the buttocks, often as a prank.
- To prod into action; to spur on: To goose can mean to stimulate or urge someone or something into faster action or greater effort.
- To give a spurt of fuel to (an engine): In a mechanical context, to goose an engine means to give it a sudden, brief increase in fuel or power.
Examples
Noun:
- A flock of geese flew overhead in a V-formation.
- We're having roast goose for Christmas dinner.
- Don't be such a goose; that's a terrible idea.
Verb:
- He goosed his friend as a joke, making him jump.
- The manager goosed the team to finish the project on time.
- The driver goosed the engine to merge onto the highway.
Advanced Usage
"What's good for the goose is good for the gander": This idiom means that what is appropriate for one person (often a woman, the "goose") is equally appropriate for another (often a man, the "gander"). It advocates for equal treatment.
- If she has to work late, so should he. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
"A wild goose chase": A futile pursuit or search for something unattainable or nonexistent.
- Looking for that old book in this city is a wild goose chase.
"To kill the goose that lays the golden eggs": To destroy a reliable source of profit or advantage through greed or shortsightedness.
- Raising prices so high that customers leave is like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Variants and Related Words
- Geese (n): The plural form of the noun 'goose' (the bird).
- Goosey / Goosy (adj): Resembling a goose; nervous or jumpy.
- Gander (n): A male goose. Informally, it can mean a look or glance (e.g., "take a gander at this").
Synonyms
- Noun (bird): Waterfowl, fowl.
- Noun (fool): Fool, dolt, simpleton, idiot (informal).
- Verb (prod): Jab, poke, nudge, spur, stimulate.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: 'Goose' is not commonly used in standard phrasal verb constructions. Its verbal uses are typically transitive.)
Related Idioms
- "Your goose is cooked": You are in serious trouble; your situation is hopeless.
- If the boss finds out, your goose is cooked.
- "Can't say boo to a goose": To be very timid or shy.
- He's so quiet he can't say boo to a goose.
Noun
- flesh of a goose (domestic or wild)
- a man who is a stupid incompetent fool
- web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
Verb
- give a spurt of fuel to
- goose the car
- prod into action
- pinch in the buttocks
- he goosed the unsuspecting girl