goody-goody
goody-goody (idiom / reduplicative compound)
/ˌɡuːdiˈɡuːdi/
Synopsis
The “goody-goody” idiom means a person who behaves overly well or tries too hard to appear virtuous, often in an annoying or insincere way. The phrase originated in eighteenth-century Britain, formed from the older word “goody” (meaning a virtuous or respectable woman) and influenced by the 1765 children’s tale “Goody Two-Shoes,” which popularized the idea of exaggerated goodness.
Meanings
- A person whose overly good or polite behavior is annoying or insincere.
- Behaving in an affectedly good or ingratiating way (adjective use).
- A child who behaves very well to please teachers or parents.
- A smugly virtuous or self-righteous person (less common).
Synonyms: goody-two-shoes; teacher’s pet; brown-noser; prig; priggish; sanctimonious; self-righteous; sycophant.
Example Sentences
- The other kids avoided her because she was always correcting everyone and acting like a goody-goody.
- He gave a goody-goody smile when the principal walked in, and everyone rolled their eyes.
- When the teacher praised him, the goody-goody sat up straighter and answered another question.
- Her tone sounded goody-goody, as if she were the only one who followed the rules.
Origin and History
The phrase “goody-goody” traces its roots to the older English word “goody,” once used as a polite title for married women (short for “goodwife”) and later for something pleasing or good. Over time, “goody” took on moral overtones, describing someone visibly virtuous. The reduplicated form “goody-goody” likely developed as a mocking intensification—used to describe someone excessively or affectedly good. Many scholars also link its rise to the eighteenth-century tale of “Goody Two-Shoes,” which popularized “goody” as a symbol of ostentatious virtue. The cultural trend toward moral instruction and satire during that era provided fertile ground for such a disparaging expression.
Cultural and Geographic Origin
“Goody-goody” first appeared in Britain, where the English language’s tradition of playful reduplication was already common. The expression reflects the social and literary climate of eighteenth-century England, which often ridiculed pretentious displays of morality. From this setting, the phrase evolved into a satirical label used both in children’s literature and in broader moral commentary.
Earliest Attestations and Disagreement
Records indicate that the reduplicated phrase “goody-goody” emerged in the latter half of the eighteenth century. Some early sources list it as first appearing around 1785, while others suggest slightly earlier traces. Although the precise year remains debated, most linguistic historians agree on an eighteenth-century origin. The word “goody” itself, however, had been circulating for centuries before then, firmly establishing the semantic base from which “goody-goody” grew.
Earliest Printed Records
The moralistic children’s book “The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes,” first published in London in 1765, helped cement the idea of “goody” as an emblem of visible virtue. Although “goody-goody” does not appear in that title, the story’s cultural popularity directly influenced the later reduplicated form.
The earliest confirmed printed use of “goody-goody” dates to the 1780s, describing a person “too good to be true” in behavior. By the early nineteenth century, the phrase was common in essays, dialogues, and letters, often appearing in lines such as:
“…not a goody-goody boy, but just a plain good boy.”
Variants
- goody two-shoes
- goody-goodie / goody-goodies (alternate hyphenation / plural)
- goody (reduced colloquial form; also unrelated senses like “treat”)
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