- Idiom – Wouldn’t say boo to a goose
- Meaning – If someone wouldn’t say boo to a goose, they are very timid and nervous. This expression might be used to describe someone who is very shy.
- This is a British English idiom. In Australia or America you might come across the similar idiom Wouldn’t say boo to a fly.
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- To describe a shy or nervous friend.
- If someone is too timid to complain about a problem.
- When your friend is too embarrassed to ask someone a question.
Example:
- “Tommy is joining the police? I’m surprised! He’s a lovely bloke but he wouldn’t say boo to a goose!”
Discuss:
- Is there an idiom like this in your country?
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.