goofn.
/ɡuːf/, U.S. /ɡuf/ slang.
a. A silly, stupid, or ‘daft’ person.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > foolish person, fool > [noun]
dizzyc825
cang?c1225
foolc1225
apec1330
mopc1330
saddle-goosec1346
mis-feelinga1382
foltc1390
mopec1390
fona1400
buffardc1430
fopc1440
joppec1440
fonda1450
fondlinga1450
insipienta1513
plume of feathers1530
bobolynec1540
dizzard1546
Little Witham?1548
nodc1563
dawkin1565
cocknel1566
nigion1570
niddicock1577
nodcock1577
cuckoo1581
Jack with the feather1581
niddipol1582
noddyship?1589
stirkc1590
fonkin1591
Gibraltar1593
fopper1598
noddypeak1598
coxcombry1600
simple1600
gowka1605
nup1607
fooliaminy1608
silly ass1608
dosser-head1612
dor1616
glow-worm1624
liripipea1625
doodle1629
sop1637
spalt1639
fool's head1650
buffle1655
Jack Adams1656
bufflehead1659
nincompoopc1668
bavian1678
nokes1679
foolanea1681
cod1699
hulver-head1699
nigmenog1699
single ten1699
mud1703
dowf1722
foolatum1740
silly billy1749
tommy noddy1774
arsec1785
nincom1800
silly1807
slob1810
omadhaun1818
potwalloper1820
mosy1824
amadan1825
gump1825
gype1825
oonchook1825
prawn1845
suck-egg1851
goosey1852
nowmun1854
pelican1856
poppy-show1860
buggerlugs1861
damfool1881
mudhead1882
yob1886
peanut head1891
haggis bag1892
poop1893
gazob1906
mush1906
wump1908
zob1911
gorm1912
goof1916
goofus1916
gubbins1916
dumb cluck1922
twat1922
B.F.1925
goofer1925
bird brain1926
berk1929
Berkeley1929
Berkeley Hunt1929
ding1929
loogan1929
stupido1929
poop-stick1930
nelly1931
droop1932
diddy1933
slappy1937
goof ball1938
get1940
poon1940
tonk1941
clot1942
yuck1943
possum1945
gobdaw1947
momo1953
nig-nog1953
plonker1955
weenie1956
nong-nong1959
Berkshire Hunt1960
balloon1965
doofus1965
dork1965
nana1965
shit-for-brains1966
schmoll1967
tosspot1967
lunchbox1969
doof1971
tonto1973
dorkus1979
motorhead1979
mouth-breather1979
wally1980
wally brain1981
der-brain1983
langer1983
numpty1985
sotong1988
fanny1995
fannybaws2000
1916 Sat. Evening Post 19 Feb. 37/2 It ain't the same show, you goof!.. They change the bill every day.
1918 L. E. Ruggles Navy Explained 113 To cope with the situation some goof ashore made a salt water soap.
1925 C. R. Cooper Lions 'n' Tigers iv. 99 The most idiotic, dunce-like goof that ever struggled about on four legs.
1930 ‘I. Hay’ & S. King-Hall Middle Watch xviii Have you stopped to think what is happening to that poor old goof in the day-cabin, right now?
b. A mistake, esp. in an entertainment; a gaffe. Also goof-up.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > an error, mistake > [noun] > serious error, blunder > embarrassing
mistread1597
directitudea1616
faux pas1676
misstep1788
gaffe1909
blooper1947
clanger1948
goof1955
1955 Springfield (Mass.) Union 30 May 21 He was convinced there was no ‘goof’ by the government at all in the polio vaccine distribution program.
1955 Britannica Bk. of Year 490/1 Goof, a mistake made in a show.
1956 TV Guide 13–19 Oct. 4 Randolph Churchill..has told friends his embarrassment is assuaged by past goof-ups among English men of letters.
1960 Guardian 15 July 19/5 His teleprompter promptly went on the blink... It was the only goof in an operation contrived..with consummate mastery.
1960 M. Phillips in Analog Sci. Fact & Fiction Nov. 11/2 Every one of them came up to me to prove that the goof-ups in his particular department weren't his fault.
1970 Daily Tel. 11 Feb. 17/5 I believe they have made a goof.
Compounds
attributive and in other combinations.
goof ball n. (a) (a tablet of) any of various drugs, spec. marijuana; a barbiturate tablet or drug; (b) = sense a above.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > sedative drug or tablet
tranquillizer1800
goof ball1938
goof pill1948
pill1951
bomber1962
rainbow1963
downer1966
downie1966
down1967
disco biscuit1981
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > foolish person, fool > [noun]
dizzyc825
cang?c1225
foolc1225
apec1330
mopc1330
saddle-goosec1346
mis-feelinga1382
foltc1390
mopec1390
fona1400
buffardc1430
fopc1440
joppec1440
fonda1450
fondlinga1450
insipienta1513
plume of feathers1530
bobolynec1540
dizzard1546
Little Witham?1548
nodc1563
dawkin1565
cocknel1566
nigion1570
niddicock1577
nodcock1577
cuckoo1581
Jack with the feather1581
niddipol1582
noddyship?1589
stirkc1590
fonkin1591
Gibraltar1593
fopper1598
noddypeak1598
coxcombry1600
simple1600
gowka1605
nup1607
fooliaminy1608
silly ass1608
dosser-head1612
dor1616
glow-worm1624
liripipea1625
doodle1629
sop1637
spalt1639
fool's head1650
buffle1655
Jack Adams1656
bufflehead1659
nincompoopc1668
bavian1678
nokes1679
foolanea1681
cod1699
hulver-head1699
nigmenog1699
single ten1699
mud1703
dowf1722
foolatum1740
silly billy1749
tommy noddy1774
arsec1785
nincom1800
silly1807
slob1810
omadhaun1818
potwalloper1820
mosy1824
amadan1825
gump1825
gype1825
oonchook1825
prawn1845
suck-egg1851
goosey1852
nowmun1854
pelican1856
poppy-show1860
buggerlugs1861
damfool1881
mudhead1882
yob1886
peanut head1891
haggis bag1892
poop1893
gazob1906
mush1906
wump1908
zob1911
gorm1912
goof1916
goofus1916
gubbins1916
dumb cluck1922
twat1922
B.F.1925
goofer1925
bird brain1926
berk1929
Berkeley1929
Berkeley Hunt1929
ding1929
loogan1929
stupido1929
poop-stick1930
nelly1931
droop1932
diddy1933
slappy1937
goof ball1938
get1940
poon1940
tonk1941
clot1942
yuck1943
possum1945
gobdaw1947
momo1953
nig-nog1953
plonker1955
weenie1956
nong-nong1959
Berkshire Hunt1960
balloon1965
doofus1965
dork1965
nana1965
shit-for-brains1966
schmoll1967
tosspot1967
lunchbox1969
doof1971
tonto1973
dorkus1979
motorhead1979
mouth-breather1979
wally1980
wally brain1981
der-brain1983
langer1983
numpty1985
sotong1988
fanny1995
fannybaws2000
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > a) narcotic drug(s) > marijuana or cannabis > tablet
goof ball1938
goof pill1948
1938 Amer. Speech 13 185/1 Goof-ball, marijuana.
1950 Time 28 Aug. A goof ball is a nemmie (from Nembutal, trade name for a barbiturate), Geronimo, bomber, or any other barbiturate or sleeping pill.
1957 J. Kerouac On the Road ii. vi. 148 She took tea, goofballs, benny.
1959 Encounter 12 ii. 33 San Francisco, which ‘is already a haven for wandering psychotics and goofballs of every description’.
1962 ‘K. Orvis’ Damned & Destroyed v. 39 You're the granddaddy of all goofball windbags.
1963 New Scientist 28 Nov. 534/1 The barbiturates..are known as ‘goof balls’.
1966 New Scientist 13 Oct. 29/2 The heroin addict nowadays never knows whether his supply [of heroin] is secure, so he supplements it with the more easily available ‘goof-balls’.
goof pill n. = goof ball n. (a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > sedative drug or tablet
tranquillizer1800
goof ball1938
goof pill1948
pill1951
bomber1962
rainbow1963
downer1966
downie1966
down1967
disco biscuit1981
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > a) narcotic drug(s) > marijuana or cannabis > tablet
goof ball1938
goof pill1948
1948 H. L. Mencken Amer. Lang. Suppl. II. 682 A sodium pentobarbital capsule is a goof-pill.
1960 Guardian 21 Oct. 3/6 ‘Goof’ pills were..sold openly. ‘Goof’ pills was the term he used to refer to barbiturates.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
goofv.
/ɡuːf/, U.S. /ɡuf/ slang.
1. intransitive.
a. To dawdle, to spend time idly or foolishly; to ‘skive’; to gawp; to let one's attention wander. Sometimes const. off.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > idleness, lack of occupation or activity > be idle or unoccupied [verb (intransitive)]
emptyeOE
to tell the clock1527
idle1668
to kick one's heels1703
twirl1777
gammer1788
to twiddle one's thumbs, or fingers1846
to make (also do) kef1852
goof1932
doss1937
to sit on one's hands1939
to bugger about ——1946
to spin one's wheels1960
1932 J. T. Farrell Young Lonigan i. 22 To get even with..the Hunkie janitor, because he always ran them off the grass when they goofed on their way home from school.
1940 Times 23 July 2/4 Among other points of advice were:—Go quickly to your shelter or refuge room; suppress your curiosity and don't ‘goof’.
1952 B. Ulanov Hist. Jazz in Amer. xxv. 351 (Gloss.) Goof or goof off, to wander in attention, to fail to discharge one's responsibility.
1956 F. Castle Violent Hours (1966) ii. 21 Have you been goofing off?
1958 E. Dundy Dud Avocado i. vii. 117 I shouldn't have goofed off like that. Should have stayed on with you.
1959 ‘J. Winton’ We joined Navy 64 ‘It's safer to take them [sc. caps] off and hold them in your hands while you're goofing.’ ‘Goofing?’ ‘Watching the flying. Anyone who watches the flying is known as a goofer. Where you're standing now is a goofing position.’
1962 J. Baldwin Another Country i. ii. 113 I used to like to just..go to the movies by myself or just read or just goof.
1963 C. D. Simak They walked like Men vii. 41 I'd work over the weekend, getting out the columns, to make up for goofing off.
1968 New Yorker 28 Dec. 25 If you ever feel like goofing off sometime, I'll be glad to keep the old ball game going and fill in for you here.
b. To blunder, to make a mistake. Occasionally const. off.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > an error, mistake > blunder [verb (intransitive)]
shail1528
blunder1711
floor1835
to make a bloomer1889
pull1913
to drop a brick1916
boob1935
to put up a black1939
goof1941
to screw up1942
to drop a bollock1948
to drop a clanger1948
to cock up1974
1941 Amer. Speech 16 166/1 Goofs off, makes a mistake.
1954 Time 8 Nov. 42 Goof, make a mistake.
1958 J. D. MacDonald Executioners (1959) iii. 37 I goofed and I've got no apologies.
1966 Word Study Feb. 5/2 If a student goofs and says the tone is melancholy or sadness.
1970 W. Smith Gold Mine xiii. 38 ‘What the hell you goofing off—’ The words choked off in his throat.
1971 Daily Tel. 2 Sept. 4/6 The Census Bureau has admitted that it ‘goofed’ when it wrote it off as a ghost town.
c. Const. up. To take a drug or drugs. Cf. goof n. Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > take drugs [verb (intransitive)]
sleigh-ride1845
drug1893
dope1909
to hit the gong, gow, stuff1933
use1951
to get down1952
to turn on1954
goof1962
joy-pop1962
to drop acid1966
1962 ‘K. Orvis’ Damned & Destroyed xxi. 155 I hope they goof-up in the dispensary.
2. transitive. To take a stupefying dose of. Also figurative. Frequently in past participle, const. up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > take drugs [verb (transitive)] > take large quantity
goof1944
1944 Amer. Speech 19 104 There is some allusion in sailors' language to the use of drugs... Gassed up..and goofed up are cognate and self-explanatory.
1957 R. A. Heinlein Door into Summer (1960) ii. 25 I was as goofed up about Belle as is possible for a man to be.
1970 Guardian 7 Aug. 11/8 Thousands of youths openly..‘goofed’ amphetamines.
1970 Lebende Sprachen XV. 104/1 Goofed up. Durch Barbiturate berauscht.
3. transitive. To bungle, mess up (something or someone).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > an error, mistake > make a mess of [verb (transitive)]
blow1943
to make a hames of1947
to cock up1948
goof1960
to fuck up1967
1960 M. Phillips in Analog Sci. Fact & Fiction Nov. 22/2 What could be anybody's purpose in goofing up a bunch of calculators the way they had?
1969 Life 4 Apr. 65 Now, it's hard to goof up pictures.
Derivatives
ˈgoofer n.1 one who goofs (in various senses).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > foolish person, fool > [noun]
dizzyc825
cang?c1225
foolc1225
apec1330
mopc1330
saddle-goosec1346
mis-feelinga1382
foltc1390
mopec1390
fona1400
buffardc1430
fopc1440
joppec1440
fonda1450
fondlinga1450
insipienta1513
plume of feathers1530
bobolynec1540
dizzard1546
Little Witham?1548
nodc1563
dawkin1565
cocknel1566
nigion1570
niddicock1577
nodcock1577
cuckoo1581
Jack with the feather1581
niddipol1582
noddyship?1589
stirkc1590
fonkin1591
Gibraltar1593
fopper1598
noddypeak1598
coxcombry1600
simple1600
gowka1605
nup1607
fooliaminy1608
silly ass1608
dosser-head1612
dor1616
glow-worm1624
liripipea1625
doodle1629
sop1637
spalt1639
fool's head1650
buffle1655
Jack Adams1656
bufflehead1659
nincompoopc1668
bavian1678
nokes1679
foolanea1681
cod1699
hulver-head1699
nigmenog1699
single ten1699
mud1703
dowf1722
foolatum1740
silly billy1749
tommy noddy1774
arsec1785
nincom1800
silly1807
slob1810
omadhaun1818
potwalloper1820
mosy1824
amadan1825
gump1825
gype1825
oonchook1825
prawn1845
suck-egg1851
goosey1852
nowmun1854
pelican1856
poppy-show1860
buggerlugs1861
damfool1881
mudhead1882
yob1886
peanut head1891
haggis bag1892
poop1893
gazob1906
mush1906
wump1908
zob1911
gorm1912
goof1916
goofus1916
gubbins1916
dumb cluck1922
twat1922
B.F.1925
goofer1925
bird brain1926
berk1929
Berkeley1929
Berkeley Hunt1929
ding1929
loogan1929
stupido1929
poop-stick1930
nelly1931
droop1932
diddy1933
slappy1937
goof ball1938
get1940
poon1940
tonk1941
clot1942
yuck1943
possum1945
gobdaw1947
momo1953
nig-nog1953
plonker1955
weenie1956
nong-nong1959
Berkshire Hunt1960
balloon1965
doofus1965
dork1965
nana1965
shit-for-brains1966
schmoll1967
tosspot1967
lunchbox1969
doof1971
tonto1973
dorkus1979
motorhead1979
mouth-breather1979
wally1980
wally brain1981
der-brain1983
langer1983
numpty1985
sotong1988
fanny1995
fannybaws2000
1925 College Humor Aug. 97/2 They had me fixed up to loop with that terrible egg Buster Slaton who is a nephew of the two old Slaton goofers.
1941 Daily Mail 31 July Goofers is the term applied to people who ignore orders to seek shelter during raids, but stand out in the streets gaping up at the bombers.
1959 [see sense 1a]. 1961 E. Brown Wings on my Sleeve 98 The shortness of our take-off run astonished all the goofers on the island.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1972; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1916v.1925