goose step

¹ American  

noun

1. a marching step of some infantries in which the legs are swung high and kept straight and stiff.

2. a military exercise in which the body is balanced on one foot, without advancing, while the other foot is swung forward and back.

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goose-step ² American  

[goos-step] / ˈgusˌstɛp /

verb (used without object)

goose-stepped, goose-stepping

1. to march in a goose step.

   Troops goose-stepped past the reviewing stand.

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goose step British  

noun

1. a military march step in which the leg is swung rigidly to an exaggerated height, esp as in the German army in the Third Reich

2. an abnormal gait in animals

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verb

1. (intr) to march in goose step

goose step Cultural  

1. A straight-legged style of military marching used by the armies of several nations, but associated particularly with the army of Germany under the Nazis.

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Discover More

The term is sometimes used to suggest the unthinking loyalty of followers or soldiers: “Brown has a goose-step mentality.”

Other Word Forms

• goose-stepper noun

Etymology

Origin of goose step¹

First recorded in 1800–10

Origin of goose-step¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Soldiers marched in goose step under a red arch emblazoned with the hammer and sickle as cannons fired 100 rounds.

From Los Angeles Times

In mid-April, Hong Kong authorities marked “National Security Education Day,” with school activities, games and shows, and a parade by police and other services performing the Chinese military’s “goose step” march.

From Reuters

The goose step is also used by North Korea and was performed by the military in Nazi Germany.

From Washington Post

He has consistently refused to repudiate white supremacists, which has put a spring in their goose step.

From Washington Post

He took big goose steps—giant steps, we’d have called them, if he had first asked, “Mother May I?”

From Literature