to be a good girl
44
4.9
- phrasal verb
- Baby Talk
:
portarse bien
- You should be a good girl and do your homework before playing outside.
- told her to be a good girl
- said 'be a good girl'
- be a good girl now
Xer, we typically were grown up to say don't talk, be quiet, be a good girl.
- Xer, we typically were grown up to say don't talk, be quiet, be a good girl.
- Read history, do math, be a good girl, stop dreaming, get sit in your chair, write those spelling words down, whatever it is.
- But he wanted me to be a good girl.
- And the dentist said that's because she was a good girl, like I was a German shepherd.
Examples
-
So I'm sure you'll be a good girl.
Fiction book (1991) -
"Be a good girl," Edwina urged, with a kiss and a hug.
Fiction book (1991) -
And I was a good girl, too.
-
- Be a good girl.
-
"I know you will be a good girl."
Fiction book (1993) -
Now, you be a good girl and I'll take you to Thailand for the weekend.
-
And you've been a good girl.
-
Well, she's a good girl.
-
Please be a good girl and be sure to take your meds.
Blog text (28) -
"Be good," he said soberly to little Fannie, "be a good girl, and listen to Edwina." "I will," she said seriously, two big tears rolling down her cheeks.
Fiction book (1991)
Synonyms
411
1.0
Do what someone in charge tells you or follow a rule
81
3.2
To accept and follow directions from a person in charge
60
2.9
To do what a person in charge tells you without asking questions
Antonyms
How Well-Behaved
45
5.8
747
1.0
- Baby Talk
44
4.9
11
4.0
37
2.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to behave well or follow instructions' is directly and predictably composed from 'be' (to exist or take on a role) + 'a' + 'good' (well-behaved) + 'girl' (female child/person), so a B1 learner who knows the words will infer the primary sense. While pragmatic tone (patronizing or directive use) requires context, that nuance does not prevent the basic compositional meaning from being immediately understandable.
Etymology
The phrase be a good girl comes from adults telling children to be quiet and obey. Saying be a good girl created a simple picture of a calm child who follows orders, so it means 'to behave well' or follow instructions.