loosey-goosey

American  

[loo-see-goo-see] / ˈlu siˈgu si /

adjective

Slang.

1. relaxed; calm; unperturbed.

   Despite the pressure, he was loosey-goosey throughout the game.

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Etymology

Origin of loosey-goosey

1965–70; rhyming compound (with -y ¹ ) based on the idiom loose as a goose

Example Sentences

Much more contentious are the loosey-goosey rules on player transfers and eligibility, which have allowed athletes to chase better openings and financial offers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

“We were alarmed at the loosey-goosey process that Alex was using to give out hidden gun permits like free bubble gum as a prize,” Kuehl said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2025

Given the stark lack of vehicles, all of the loosey-goosey guesswork integral to this industry suddenly has much less room for error.

From Slate • Jul. 28, 2023

From the start, critics complained about a main character who seemed dangerously recessive, observing other people’s foibles in loosey-goosey comic sketches that barely added up.

From New York Times • Dec. 9, 2021

"Our challenge at Toyota is whether we dismiss BYD's way of engineering as being loosey-goosey and too risky, or whether we can learn from it," one of the sources said.

From Reuters • Dec. 2, 2021