good

good¹ W1S1 [gud] adj comparative better [ˈbetə US -ər] superlative best [best]

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1¦(of a high standard)¦

2¦(skilful)¦

3¦(what you want)¦

4¦(pleasant/enjoyable)¦

5¦(successful/correct)¦

6¦(suitable)¦

7¦(useful)¦

8¦(behaving well)¦

9¦(makes you healthy)¦

10¦(keeps something in good condition)¦

11¦(physically well)¦

12¦(not damaged or weak)¦

13¦(kind)¦

14¦(morally right)¦

15¦(large)¦

16¦(reasonable price)¦

17¦(completely/thoroughly)¦

18 a good deal

19 good value (for money)

20 good for something

21 a good three miles/ten years etc

22 as good as

23 a good few/many

24 too good to be true/to last

25 somebody's too good for somebody

26 in your own good time

27 in good time (for something/to do something)

28 hanging/shooting etc is too good for somebody

29 as good a time/place etc as any

30 be as good as your word

31 a good word for somebody/something

32 be in somebody's good books

33 have a good thing going

34 be onto a good thing

35 make good

35 make it good

36 make good a debt/loss etc

37 make good your escape

38 the good life

39 the good old days

40 somebody's good offices

41 good Samaritan

42 the good book

43 good

44 that's good

45 (that's a) good idea/point/question

46 good luck

47 good luck to him/them etc

48 good for somebody

49 it's a good thing

50 that's/it's not good enough

51 be good and ready

52 that's a good one

53 be good for a laugh

54 good old John/Karen etc

55 good grief/God/Lord/heavens/gracious!

56 good girl/boy/dog etc

57 if you know what's good for you

58 would you be good enough to do something

59 all in good time

60 have a good one

61 be good to go

62 be as good as it gets

63 it's all good

64 very good

65 (jolly) good show

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[: Old English; Origin: god]

1.) ¦(OF A HIGH STANDARD)¦

of a high standard or quality

≠ ↑bad, poor ↑poor

▪ a good hotel

▪ good quality cloth

▪ The train service is not very good.

▪ My French is better than my Spanish.

▪ You'll receive the best medical treatment.

▪ His qualifications aren't good enough .

see usage note ↑well¹

2.) ¦(SKILFUL)¦

able to do something well

▪ She's a very good player.

▪ Do you know a good builder?

good at (doing) sth

▪ Alex is very good at languages.

▪ She's good at making things.

good with

▪ As a politician, you need to be good with words (=skilful at using words) .

▪ He's very good with people (=skilful at dealing with people) .

do/make a good job (of doing sth)

(=do something well)

▪ Mike's done a good job of painting the windows.

3.) ¦(WHAT YOU WANT)¦

used about something that is what you want or happens in the way that you want

≠ ↑bad

▪ That's good news !

▪ I need a bit of good luck .

4.) ¦(PLEASANT/ENJOYABLE)¦

pleasant and enjoyable

it's good to do sth

▪ It's good to see you again.

have a good time/day/weekend etc

▪ Did you have a good vacation?

▪ That was good fun .

5.) ¦(SUCCESSFUL/CORRECT)¦

likely to be successful or correct

▪ She's full of good ideas .

▪ Well, can you think of a better plan?

▪ What's the best way to deal with this?

▪ The police have a pretty good idea who did it.

▪ I'm not sure, but I could make a good guess .

6.) ¦(SUITABLE)¦

suitable or convenient

▪ Is this a good time to talk to you?

▪ It was a good place to rest.

good for (doing) sth

▪ It's a good day for going to the beach.

be good for sb

especially AmE

▪ Ten o'clock is good for me.

7.) ¦(USEFUL)¦

useful or helpful

≠ ↑bad

▪ Do you want some good advice ?

▪ The best thing you can do is wait here.

▪ You should make good use of your time.

8.) ¦(BEHAVING WELL)¦

behaving well and not causing any trouble - used especially about a child

= ↑well-behaved

≠ ↑naughty

▪ She's such a good baby.

▪ The kids were as good as gold (=very good) .

→be on your best behaviour at ↑behaviour

9.) ¦(MAKES YOU HEALTHY)¦

likely to make you healthy, either physically or mentally

≠ ↑bad good for

▪ Fresh fruit and vegetables are good for you.

▪ Watching too much TV isn't good for you.

good to eat/drink

▪ They have to learn which wild foods are good to eat.

10.)¦(KEEPS SOMETHING IN GOOD CONDITION)¦

be good for sth

likely to improve the condition of something

▪ products that are good for the environment

▪ The publicity has been good for business.

11.) ¦(PHYSICALLY WELL)¦ [used especially in negatives and comparatives]

healthy or well

▪ 'How are you?' 'Better, thanks.'

▪ Lyn's not feeling too good today.

12.) ¦(NOT DAMAGED OR WEAK)¦

if the condition of something is good, it is not damaged or weak

in good condition/shape

▪ It's in pretty good condition for an old car.

▪ Boris had always kept his body in good shape.

▪ The Chancellor announced that the economy is in good shape.

▪ Once the boat's repaired, it'll be as good as new (=in perfect condition) .

sb's good eye/arm/leg etc

(=the one that is not damaged)

▪ He sat up, supporting himself on his good arm.

13.) ¦(KIND)¦

kind and understanding about what other people need or want

good about

▪ Dad lent me the money. He was very good about it.

it/that/this is good of sb

▪ It was good of him to offer you a lift.

▪ The company's always been very good to me.

14.) ¦(MORALLY RIGHT)¦

behaving correctly or being right according to accepted moral standards

≠ ↑bad

▪ a good man

▪ I try to be good, but it isn't always easy.

▪ Well, that's my good deed for the day (=something good you try to do for someone else every day) .

▪ I'm on the side of the good guys (=people who behave in a morally right way, for example in a film) .

15.) ¦(LARGE)¦

large in amount, size, range etc

→↑goodish

▪ We've had a good crop of apples.

▪ There's a good range of leisure facilities.

▪ I'd been waiting a good while (=a fairly long time) .

▪ Our team has a good chance of winning (=is fairly likely to win) .

16.) ¦(REASONABLE PRICE)¦

a good price is reasonable and not expensive

▪ $30 sounds like a good price to me.

17.) ¦(COMPLETELY/THOROUGHLY)¦ [only before noun]

doing something for a long time, so that you do it completely and thoroughly

▪ You need a good rest .

▪ Take a good look at it.

▪ She sat down and had a good cry .

▪ This time he waited until he was good and ready (=completely ready) .

18.) a good deal

a lot

▪ It cost a good deal, I can tell you.

a good deal of trouble/time/work etc

▪ I went to a good deal of trouble to get this ticket.

a good deal bigger/better etc

▪ He was a good deal older than her.

19.) good value (for money)

BrE something that is good value is not expensive, or is worth what you pay for it

▪ The three-course menu is varied and good value for money.

20.) good for sth

a) able to be used for a particular period of time

= ↑valid

good for one month/a year etc

▪ Your passport is good for another three years.

b) likely to continue living or being useful for a particular time or distance, even though old or not in good condition

good for some time/a hundred miles etc

▪ This old truck is good for another 100,000 miles.

c) informal likely to give you something or provide something

▪ Dad should be good for a few bucks.

21.) a good three miles/ten years etc

at least three miles, ten years etc, and probably more

▪ It's a good mile away.

▪ He's a good ten years younger than her.

22.) as good as

almost

as good as done/finished etc

▪ The summer's as good as over.

as good as dead/ruined/useless etc

▪ This carpet's as good as ruined.

23.) a good few/many

a fairly large number of things or people

▪ I've done this a good few times now.

▪ A good many people were upset about the new tax.

24.) too good to be true/to last informal

so good that you cannot believe it is real, or you expect something bad to happen

▪ Their relationship had always seemed too good to be true.

25.) sb's too good for sb

used to say that you think the second person does not deserve to have a relationship with the first

▪ George is a good lad, too good for you!

26.) in your own good time informal

if you do something in your own good time, you do it only when you are ready to do it, rather than when other people want you to

▪ I'll tell him in my own good time.

27.) in good time (for sth/to do sth)

BrE if you do something in good time, you do it early enough to be ready for a particular time or event

▪ Ben arrived in good time for dinner.

28.) hanging/shooting etc is too good for sb

spoken used to say that someone has done something so bad that they deserve the most severe punishment available

29.) as good a time/place etc as any

used to say that although a time etc is not perfect, there will probably not be a better one

▪ I suppose this is as good a place as any to stay.

30.)be as good as your word

to do something that you promised to do

31.) a good word for sb/sth

something good that you say about someone or something

▪ Dan put in a good word for you at the meeting.

have/find a good word (to say)

▪ No one had a good word to say for her.

32.) be in sb's good books informal

if you are in someone's good books, they are pleased with you or your work

▪ I'll ask my boss for the day off - I'm in her good books just now.

33.) have a good thing going

to have or be doing something that is successful

▪ They've got a good thing going with that little shop of theirs.

34.) be onto a good thing

BrE informal to have found an easy way of being successful or getting what you want

▪ Andrew knew when he was onto a good thing.

35.) make good also make it good

to become successful and rich after being poor - used especially in newspapers

▪ a country boy who made good in New York

36.) make good a debt/loss etc

to pay someone money that you owe, or to provide money to replace what has been lost - used especially in business

▪ The loss to the company was made good by contributions from its subsidiaries.

37.) make good your escape

literary to succeed in escaping

38.) the good life

an expensive way of living with good food, fast cars etc

▪ his weakness for women and the good life

39.) the good old days

the good times in the past

▪ We talked for hours about the good old days.

40.) sb's good offices

formal help that someone provides, especially someone in a position of power

41.) good Samaritan

someone who gives help to people in trouble

42.) the good book

old-fashioned the Bible

→so far so good at ↑far¹ (8)

→give as good as you get at ↑give¹ (34)

→while the going's good at ↑going¹ (4)

→hold good at ↑hold¹ (14)

→for good measure at ↑measure² (8)

→pay good money for sth at ↑money

→bad/good sailor at ↑sailor

→that's/it's all well and good at ↑well³ (4)

43.) spoken good

a) used to say that you are pleased about something

▪ Good. I'm glad that's finished.

▪ 'I got an A in Biology, Mum.' ' Oh, good .'

b) used to tell someone that you think their work or what they are doing is good

▪ 'Is the answer five?' 'Yes, good.'

44.) spoken that's good

used to say that you approve of something

▪ 'I've booked a table.' 'Oh, that's good.'

45.) spoken (that's a) good idea/point/question

used to say that someone has just said or suggested something interesting or important that you had not thought of before

▪ 'But it's Sunday, the bank will be closed.' 'Good point.'

46.) spoken good luck

used to say that you hope that someone is successful or that something good happens to them

▪ Good luck in your exams.

47.) spoken good luck to him/them etc

used to say that you hope someone is successful, even if you think this is unlikely

▪ 'They're hoping to finish it by November.' 'Good luck to them.'

48.) spoken good for sb

used to say that you approve of something that someone has done

▪ 'I've decided to accept the job.' 'Good for you.'

49.) spoken it's a good thing also it's a good job BrE

used to say that you are glad something happened, because there would have been problems if it had not happened

▪ It's a good thing you're at home. I've lost my keys.

and a good thing/job too BrE

▪ She's gone, and a good thing too.

50.) spoken that's/it's not good enough

used to say that you are not satisfied with something and that you are annoyed about it

▪ It's just not good enough. I've been waiting an hour!

51.) spoken be good and ready

to be completely ready

▪ We'll go when I'm good and ready and not before.

52.) spoken that's a good one

used to tell someone that you do not believe something they have said and think it is a joke or a trick

▪ You won $50,000? That's a good one!

53.) spoken be good for a laugh also be a good laugh BrE

to be enjoyable or amusing

▪ It's Hazel's party tomorrow. Should be good for a laugh.

54.) spoken good old John/Karen etc

used to praise someone, especially because they have behaved in the way that you expect them to

▪ Good old Ed! I knew he wouldn't let us down.

55.) spoken good grief/God/Lord/heavens/gracious!

used to express surprise or anger

▪ 'It's going to cost us £500.' 'Good grief!'

56.) spoken good girl/boy/dog etc

used to tell a child or animal that they have behaved well or done something well

▪ Sit! Good dog.

57.) spoken if you know what's good for you

used in a threatening way to tell someone to do something or something bad will happen to them

▪ Do as he says, if you know what's good for you!

58.) spoken would you be good enough to do sth also would you be so good as to do sth

formal used to ask someone very politely to do something

▪ Would you be good enough to help me with my bags?

59.) spoken all in good time

BrE used when someone wants to do something soon but you want to wait a little

▪ 'When can we open our presents, Mom?' 'All in good time, Billy.'

60.) spoken have a good one

AmE used to say goodbye and to wish someone a nice day

61.) spoken be good to go

AmE informal to be ready to do something

▪ I've got my shoes and I'm good to go.

62.) spoken be as good as it gets

spoken if a situation is as good as it gets, it is not going to improve

▪ Enjoy yourself while you can. This is as good as it gets.

63.) spoken it's all good

especially AmE informal used to say that a situation is good or acceptable, or that there is not a problem

▪ Don't worry about it, man - it's all good.

64.) spoken very good

BrE old-fashioned used to tell someone in a position of authority that you will do what they have asked

▪ 'Tell the men to come in.' 'Very good, sir.'

65.) spoken (jolly) good show

BrE old-fashioned used to say that you approve of something someone has done

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WORD FOCUS: good

very good: excellent, fantastic, wonderful, great, terrific, neat (AmE), superb, amazing, outstanding, brilliant, impressive, fine, first-class, out of this world

of good quality: high quality, top quality, superior, deluxe, classy

morally good: decent, virtuous, respectable, honourable (BrE) honorable (AmE), upright, beyond reproach

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good ²

good² n

1.) no good/not much good/not any good

a) not useful or suitable

▪ One lesson's not much good - you need five or six.

▪ 'I could come next week.' 'That's no good. I'll be away.'

no good/not much good/not any good for

▪ The land here isn't any good for agricultural crops.

no good/not much good/not any good to

▪ You're no good to me if you can't drive a car.

b) of a low standard or level of ability

▪ The movie wasn't much good.

▪ Is the new headteacher any good?

no good at (doing) sth

▪ I'm no good at speaking in public.

c) morally bad

▪ Stay away from Jerry - he's no good.

2.) it's no good (doing sth)

used to say that an action will not achieve what it is intended to achieve

▪ It's no good telling him - he won't listen.

3.) do some good/do sb good

to have a useful effect

▪ She works for a small charity where she feels she can do some good.

▪ I'll talk to him but I don't think it will do any good.

▪ A bit more exercise would do you good.

→do more harm than good at ↑harm¹ (1)

4.) what's the good of...?/what good is...?

used to say that it is not worth doing or having something in a particular situation

▪ What's the good of buying a boat if you're too busy to use it?

▪ What good is money when you haven't any friends?

5.) for good

permanently

▪ The injury may keep him out of football for good.

6.) for the good of sb/sth

in order to help someone or improve a situation

▪ We must work together for the good of the community.

▪ Take the medicine - it's for your own good !

7.) [U]

behaviour, attitudes, forces etc that are morally right

▪ She is definitely an influence for good on those boys.

▪ There's a lot of good in him, in spite of his rudeness.

▪ the struggle between good and evil

→↑do-gooder

8.) be up to no good informal

to be doing or planning something wrong or dishonest

▪ Those guys look like they're up to no good.

9.) the common/general good

formal the advantage of everyone in society or in a group

▪ countries united for the common good

10.) be (all) to the good

used to say that something that happens is good, especially when it is in addition to or as the result of something else

▪ If further improvements can be made, that would be all to the good.

good ³

good³ adv AmE spoken informal

well. Many teachers think this is not correct English

▪ The business is doing good now.

▪ Listen to me good!