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Glite Dictionary
someone's goose is cooked

someone's goose is cooked

9.9
In serious trouble and likely to be punished or ruined
  • idiom
  • Archaic
translation icon : se le acabó el juego a alguien
  • If the boss finds out that I lost the client, my goose is cooked.

Examples

  • When the evidence was revealed in court, his goose was cooked.

  • If the boss finds out, then someone's goose is cooked!

  • After missing three exams in a row, her goose is cooked for this semester.

  • After that mistake, someone's goose is cooked.

  • When the manager discovered the missing funds, she knew someone's goose is cooked.

  • After being caught cheating on the test, someone's goose is cooked, and he faced expulsion.

  • The scandal in the company revealed the truth, and now someone's goose is cooked.

Synonyms

to get in trouble
vssomeone's goose is cooked
203 2.7

Face blame or punishment for something you did wrong

implies a more severe or final ruin after a mistake rather than ordinary trouble
in hot water
vssomeone's goose is cooked
  • Informal
12 4.1

In trouble because you did something wrong

is stronger, meaning near certain punishment or ruin rather than general trouble
in the doghouse
vssomeone's goose is cooked
  • Informal
12 7.9

Not liked or trusted because you did something wrong

refers to severe punishment or ruin, not merely personal disapproval
to catch hell
vssomeone's goose is cooked
  • Slang
5 8.2

To get a lot of blame or punishment for a mistake

is a more final ruined state rather than only punishment or criticism
to wind up in trouble
vssomeone's goose is cooked
  • Informal
1 4.8

To end up in a difficult situation because of your choices

is immediate severe trouble or punishment after a mistake rather than eventual difficulty
to get one's lumps
vssomeone's goose is cooked
  • Informal
8.6

To be punished for something you did wrong

is a more final ruined outcome after being caught rather than only punishment
screwed, blued and tattooed
vssomeone's goose is cooked
  • Archaic
9.9

Being in very big trouble because of something you did

focuses on imminent punishment or ruin after being found out rather than general defeat

Antonyms

safe
∞ 1.0

Not likely to be harmed or in danger

in the clear
  • Informal
33 4.4

Not in danger, trouble, or under suspicion

Surface Forms

someone's goose is cooked main

Morphology

someone's + goose + be + cooked

The idiomatic sense 'in serious trouble' cannot be inferred from the literal constituents: a B1 learner who knows 'someone's', 'goose', 'be' and 'cooked' would most likely interpret a cooked goose as food or ruined, not as impending punishment. This phrase is an allusive idiom whose meaning is language-specific and unpredictable from its parts, so prior exposure is required.

Etymology

Someone's goose is cooked comes from the clear image of a goose that has been cooked for dinner; once the bird is cooked it is finished. So, to say someone's 'goose is cooked' means they are 'in serious trouble' or 'about to be punished'.