English Idiom – Wouldn’t say boo to a goose.
Very shy and timid. Someone who wouldn’t say boo to a goose is too nervous to speak up or stand up for themselves.
This is a British English idiom. Saying “boo!” to a goose would be about the least scary thing you could do – so if someone wouldn’t even do that, they must be very timid! It’s usually said kindly, not as an insult.
Usage:
- Describing a shy or quiet friend.
- Someone is too timid to complain about a problem.
- A friend is too embarrassed to ask 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!”
As featured on Top 10 Animal Idioms!
In the News
Spotted in the news“Sadly, I’m one of those people who’d never say boo to a goose in person…”spiked-online.comWhat 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.
Love animal idioms? See our full list of 50 animal idioms in English, with meanings and examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
Someone who is very shy and timid, and too nervous to speak up for themselves.
Not usually. It is often said kindly, to describe a gentle, quiet person.
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