goody two shoes
noun
a goody-goody.
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goody two shoes
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goody two-shoes
goody two-shoesA prudish, self-righteous individual, a goody-goody. For example, Phyllis was a real goody two-shoes, tattling on her friends to the teacher. This expression alludes to the main character of a nursery tale, The History of Goody Two-Shoes (1765), who was so pleased when receiving a second shoe that she kept saying “Two shoes.” The goody in the story is short for goodwife but means “goody-goody” in the idiom.
goody two shoes
Americannoun
(sometimes initial capital letters)
plural
goody two shoes
goody two-shoes
Idioms
Etymology
Origin of goody two shoes
After the title character of The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes (1765), a nursery tale perhaps written by Oliver Goldsmith
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.
“I wasn’t a goody two-shoes, but the fact of the matter is, I didn’t kill anybody.”
From Seattle Times • Aug. 23, 2023
"Well, I know this because people were like, 'I saw you!' I was such a goody two-shoes and people kept going, 'I saw you out. I made eye contact with you.' I was like, 'No!'"
From Fox News • Dec. 22, 2020
I'm a Gen Xer, I'm on the younger side of Generation X. We definitely think the Millennials are like the goody two-shoes, good kids.
From Salon • Aug. 25, 2020
But, at school, they are considered insufferable goody two-shoes.
From The New Yorker • May 20, 2019
“Maleeka ain’t no goody two-shoes like you’re trying to make her out to be, Miss Saunders,” Char says, putting her arm around my shoulder.
From "The Skin I'm In" by Sharon G. Flake
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
