good riddance

Idioms

Also, good riddance to bad rubbish. A welcome loss or departure. This expression is often used as an exclamation. For example, The principal has finally retired, and most of the teachers are saying, “Good riddance!” or When Jean decided to give up her violin her relieved family quietly said, “Good riddance to bad rubbish.”. [Late 1700s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Thus, to the “tyranny”—to the “dead hand”—of gold, he says good riddance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

If this is it for The Weeknd as we know him, good riddance.

From Salon • May 19, 2025

She added that she was saying "good riddance to that nasty menacing colon," and urged her fans to "be kind".

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2024

So when Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday she would accept a new recommendation to focus on providing better bus service instead, I thought: good riddance.

From Slate • Mar. 16, 2023

“Haven’t seen him! And good riddance, too!” one of the workers replied.

From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023