for good

[Don]

"He's gone for good." One might regret that he's gone, so how is it that using this expression forces allusion to goodness? Is there a fundamental meaning common to all differing uses of "good"? Or do we have here a collection of homonyms, each with its own, distinct word history?

Also, "He's gone for good and all." All of what?

Don

[sluggo]

Yeah, what Don said!
Also what about "but good" (I'll fix that up but good")

[skinem]

I had a professor tell us one time that the "For good" phrase at one time was slang for "for God's sake", but that it was an age in which that word wasn't used.
No documentation, but it made sense....

[gailr]

The free dictionary gives this short list of "good" idioms:

as good as
Practically; nearly: as good as new.
but good
Informal Used as an intensive: The pipe started to leak but good.
for good
Permanently; forever: I'm moving to Europe for good.
good and
Informal Very; thoroughly: I'll do it when I'm good and ready.
no good Informal
1. Worthless.
2. Futile; useless: It's no good arguing with them.
to the good
1. For the best; advantageous.
2. In an advantageous financial position: ended up to the good.

skinem:
was your teacher discussing minced oaths?

[Perry]

Very cool list Gail. Two of the minced oaths are in cockney rhyme(Cheese & Rice, and Gor blimey).

[Bailey]

skinem:
was your teacher discussing minced oaths?

As to the origins of the 'oaths' it really only means what the speaker's knowledge of it means. If I say shoot, maybe I only mean shoot.

mark [boogers!]-[rats!]-[or bother] Bailey

[Stargzer]

Nice link, Gail. But Beast with two backs?

Forsooth, methinks the language of the Bard of Avon deserveth more study by this Philistine! Strewth!

[Perry]

Well obviously they never heard of the Kama Sutra.

"In the vigour of his age he married Gargamelle, daughter to the King of the Parpaillons, a jolly pug, and well-mouthed wench. These two did oftentimes do the two-backed beast together, joyfully rubbing and frotting their bacon 'gainst one another."

That's just not Kosher!

[skinem]

skinem:
was your teacher discussing minced oaths?

Nice list! I sure don't remember any term like minced oaths, but have heard plenty of euphamisms! I could probably add a few...

Don't care for minched oaths, but do like minced oats!

[gailr]

Well obviously they never heard of the Kama Sutra.

"In the vigour of his age he married Gargamelle, daughter to the King of the Parpaillons, a jolly pug, and well-mouthed wench. These two did oftentimes do the two-backed beast together, joyfully rubbing and frotting their bacon 'gainst one another."

That's just not Kosher!

I added a thread link to your term there, Perry. This is a vocabulary site, after all.

I grew up buffered by oaths, both minced and whole; took me quite awhile to try one for myself, though. Lightening did not smite me and I now have a few seemingly ineradicable ones held in reserve for certain drivers sucking down Starbucks and yapping on cell phones whilst driving their Urban Assault Vehicles oblivious to lane markers and the first three laws of physics...*takes a deep breath*

While I agree with Sunny that gratuitous swearing is unattractive, I have to conceal snorts of derision at those who bust out with phrases such as "dad burn it!" in the pious belief that they are Not Using Bad Words.

-gailr
who alternates between blimey! and Sacré bleu when feeling continental...

[Bailey]

buffered by oaths...

did that make you buffed then?

...held in reserve for certain drivers sucking down Starbucks and yapping on cell phones whilst driving their Urban Assault Vehicles oblivious to lane markers and the first three laws of physics...*takes a deep breath* [/size]

lol

I have to conceal snorts of derision at those who bust out with phrases such as "dad burn it!" in the pious belief that they are Not Using Bad Words.

What if they are just feeling colorful as you feel continental?

-gailr
who alternates between blimey! and Sacré bleu when feeling continental...

mark snorts? Bailey

[Palewriter]

Sometimes, the only expression that seems to be an appropriate response to ridiculous or abnoxious behavior is: "pi$$ off". It may lack something in delicacy of phrase; it may not qualify as a cunning trope; it may even lack a certain wit. But it does the job.

-- PW

[tcward]

I grew up buffered by oaths, both minced and whole...

Couldn't help but think of new turns of phrase... Whole oaths, not just for breakfast anymore! Then there's instant oaths... rolled oaths... wild oaths... steel cut oaths! irish oaths! scottish oaths!

ok... I'll stop now.

[gailr]

Quaker oaths...

[Bailey]

none of my friends do.

mark no-oath Bailey
Tim-pun person extraordinaire And Still champeen!