goose
(guːs )
Word forms: geese
1. countable noun
A goose is a large bird that has a long neck and webbed feet. Geese are often farmed for their meat.
2. uncountable noun
Goose is the meat from a goose that has been cooked.
...roast goose.
3. See also wild goose chase
4. cook someone's goose phrase [VERB inflects]
If you cook someone's goose, you prevent their plans from succeeding.
He said that what they were up to would cook Krasky's goose.
5. the goose that lays the golden egg phrase [Vs inflect]
If someone kills the goose that lays the golden egg, they harm or destroy the person or thing that gives them their money, power, or advantage.
Unregulated tourism can kill the goose that laid their golden egg.
6. what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander phrase
If you say what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, you mean what is acceptable for one person in a particular situation should be acceptable for another person in a similar situation.
Image of goose
© DenisNata, Shutterstock
Idioms:
a wild goose chase
a search for something that you have little chance of finding because you have been given wrong information
Every time I've gone to Rome to try to find out if the story could be true, it has turned out to be a wild-goose chase.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
someone wouldn't say boo to a goose
said to mean that someone is very quiet, shy or nervous
`If you remember, at college I wouldn't say boo to a goose.' `That's right, you were very quiet.'
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
kill the goose that lays the golden egg
to result in an important source of income being destroyed or seriously reduced
It's a classic case of too many tourists loving a place to death. `They're killing the goose that laid the golden egg,' said the park manager.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
cook your goose
to do something which gets you into trouble or spoils your chances of success
By trying to constantly undermine me he cooked his goose. After that I just had to sack him.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander [old-fashioned]
said to mean that what applies to one person should apply to others, because people should be treated fairly and equally
Unless Washington acknowledges that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, these talks with Russia and China are unlikely to make progress.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Translations:
Chinese: 鹅
Japanese: ガチョウ
- major departure from
- major depression
- major destination
- major determinant of
- major deterrent
- major development
- major difference
- major disagreement
- major disappointment
- major disaster
- major discovery
- major disruption
- major disturbance
- major donor
- major downturn
- major draw
- major drawback
- major earthquake
- major embarrassment
- major employer
- major epidemic
- majorette
- major event
- major exhibition
- major expansion