goose

American  

[goos] / gus /

noun

plural

geese, gooses

1. any of numerous wild or domesticated, web-footed swimming birds of the family Anatidae, especially of the genera Anser and Branta, most of which are larger and have a longer neck and legs than the ducks.

2. a female bird of the family Anatidae, especially of genera Anser and Branta, as distinguished from the male, or gander.

3. the flesh of a bird of the family Anatidae, especially of genera Anser and Branta, used as food.

4. a silly or foolish person; simpleton.

5. Slang. a poke between the buttocks to startle.

6. Informal. anything that energizes, strengthens, or the like.

   to give the economy a badly needed goose.

7. a tailor's smoothing iron with a curved handle.

8. an obsolete board game played with dice and counters in which a player whose cast falls in a square containing the picture of a goose is allowed to advance double the number of their throw.

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verb (used with object)

goosed, goosing

1. Slang. to poke (a person) between the buttocks to startle.

2. Informal.

   1. to prod or urge to action or an emotional reaction.

      The promise of time off may goose the workers and increase profits.

   2. to strengthen or improve (often followed byup ).

      Let's goose up the stew with some wine.

   3. to increase; raise (often followed byup ).

      to goose up government loans in weak industries.

   4. to give a spurt of fuel to (a motor) to increase speed.

idioms

1. cook someone's goose, to ruin someone's hopes, plans, chances, etc..

   His goose was cooked when they found the stolen gems in his pocket.

goose ¹ British  

/ ɡuːs /

verb

1. (tr) to prod (a person) playfully in the behind

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noun

1. a playful prod in the behind

goose ² British  

/ ɡuːs /

noun

1. any of various web-footed long-necked birds of the family Anatidae: order Anseriformes. They are typically larger and less aquatic than ducks and are gregarious and migratory See also brent goose barnacle goose greylag snow goose

2. the female of such a bird, as opposed to the male (gander)

3. informal a silly person

4. a pressing iron with a long curving handle, used esp by tailors

5. the flesh of the goose, used as food

6. he constantly exaggerates the importance of a person or thing

7. informal

   1. to spoil someone's plans

   2. to bring about someone's ruin, downfall, etc

8. to sacrifice future benefits for the sake of momentary present needs See also golden goose

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goose Cultural  

1. One's chances are ruined: “After the recent disclosures of foul play, political analysts feel that the candidate's goose is now thoroughly cooked.”

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goose More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing goose

• cook someone's goose
• gone coon (goose)
• kill the goose that laid the golden eggs
• sauce for the goose
• wild goose chase

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Other Word Forms

• gooselike adjective

Etymology

Origin of goose

First recorded before 1000; Middle English gose, goos, Old English gōs (plural gēs ); cognate with German Gans, Old Norse gās; compare Sanskrit haṅsa, Greek chḗn, Latin ānser

Example Sentences

Killing the goose that lays the golden egg happens often on Wall Street.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

On the heels of ABC recruiting two other Mormon Wives, Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt, to compete on “Dancing with the Stars,” sending one to goose “The Bachelorette”’s declining ratings made synergistic sense.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Nobody would ever give a damn about Cats in Hats or Green Eggs and Ham, and the world wouldn't have a golden goose - the madly magnificent Dr. Seuss.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

The H5N1 virus was first identified in 1996 on a domestic goose farm in Southeast China.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026

My teeth were chattering and I had goose bumps all over me.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Related Words

• activate
• breed
• bring about
• cause
• coax
• convince
• engender
• generate
• lead to
• motivate
• persuade
• produce
• promote
• prompt
• urge