to goose
- verb
- /ɡus/
- Informal
- If the economy needs to be goosed every once in a while, shouldn't the government support peacetime industries along the lines of education, healthcare, daycare, or mass transit?
- goose the economy
- goose interest
That that really gooses the energy because he's he's he's hard to keep up with.
- That that really gooses the energy because he's he's he's hard to keep up with.
Examples
-
No wonder Grace Harris is goosed right into action.
Fiction book (1998) -
Goose them a little.
-
Goose them.
-
To motivate the team, the coach goosed them with a pep talk before the big game.
-
The manager decided to goose productivity by implementing a new incentive program for the employees.
-
She goosed the project forward by introducing innovative ideas that sparked everyone's interest.
Idioms
To destroy a steady source of income by greedy short-term choices
- Informal
Doing something risky and foolish that will likely make you lose money or get into trouble
- Informal
A saying that you should not expect a wild person or thing to behave calmly
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
- US
A large wild goose from North America with a black head and neck and white cheeks
- UK
A small raised bump on the skin that appears when you feel cold, afraid, or have strong feelings
A large wild goose with a black head and white cheek patches that honks loudly and is often near lakes
Fat from geese that people use in cooking and rub on the skin as a simple medicine
- Specialized
A small sea animal with a shell on a stalk that sticks to ships and driftwood
- US
A wild plum tree from eastern and central North America that makes red-orange fruit with yellow flesh
How Forceful
Surface Forms
Etymology
The verb goose meaning 'to prompt' grew from the same idea as the pinch — a quick, sharp action that makes someone move — so to goose someone is to give a sudden push or nudge to get them acting. That's why we say someone was 'goosed' into doing something.