good thingn.
/ˌɡʊd ˈθɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈɡʊd ˈˌθɪŋ/ 1. In plural. Desirable or pleasurable things generally; luxuries; esp. tasty and appetizing food; treats. In early use chiefly in the good things of this world (also life) (now usually in theological contexts).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > luxury or luxurious living > [noun] > luxury or luxuries
good thingsc1384
delectables1547
luxury1705
the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [noun] > delicacy or titbit
daintethc1290
daintyc1300
morselc1390
confection1393
delicec1405
delicacya1425
delicatea1475
friandise1484
deliciositiesa1500
daintive1526
junket1538
knack1548
daintrel1575
cate1578
pulpament1600
gaudy1622
regalo1622
daint1633
titbita1641
scitament1656
regale1673
knick-knack1682
nicety1704
bonne bouche1721
diablotin1770
sunket1788
regalement1795
confiture1802
bon-bon1821
sock1825
delicatessen1853
good things1861
tiddlywinks1893
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke i. 53 He hath fillid hungry men with goode thingis [L. bonis], and he hath left ryche men voyde.
1487 W. Caxton tr. J. Legrand Bk. Good Maners i. v. sig. biiiv Saul also had receyued many good thynges of Dauyd and neuertheles he wold haue slayne hym.
1533 tr. Erasmus Enchiridion Militis Christiani xxxv. sig. R.viii The mynde of man, which is wyder & larger of capacite than that it can be suffysed with al the good thynges of this worlde.
1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. E.viv Many men do luste To eate good things.
1588 J. Udall True Remedie iii. f. 46v The Israelites beganne to waxe fat wyth the good things of this life.
1632 J. Mabbe tr. J. de Santa Maria Policie Unveiled xxvii. 281 I will inioy the good things of this world, by which are vnderstood all sortes of delights, and pleasures, as eating, drinking, intertainments, recreations, sportes, and pastimes.
1675 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Odysses iv. 36 Another on the Table laid good things. Another Bread.
1713 N. Walter Disc. conc. Wonderfulness of Christ xii. 186 A Feast of good things for the entertainment of his Spouse!
1755 Connoisseur No. 88 (1756) 531 The generality of writers are by the frowns of fortune debarred from possessing a profuse share of the good things of this world.
1821 P. Egan Life in London i. iv. 58 Tom was born to be a happy fellow, if the enjoyment of the ‘good things’ of this world could have made him so.
1861 M. Pattison in Westm. Rev. Apr. 414 The German relished for his ‘mornin’ the good things..here provided.
1888 J. W. Burgon Lives Twelve Good Men II. v. 29 He would partake freely of the good things before him.
1901 W. Elliott Life Jesus Christ (1908) xlv. 363 It is God's will that we shall first receive the good things of this life from His hands.
1920 F. J. Mills Cheer Up 25 The Cheer-Ups—150 strong—arrived with baskets of good things, including oranges and early peaches.
1992 Oldie 21 Feb. 41/2 This one had delectable rosy beef, smoked salmon, Thai chicken and no end of good things.
2. A witty comment or remark; a bon mot.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > wit, wittiness > wit with words > [noun] > instance of
crank1594
wits, fits, and fancies1595
jerk1598
quirk1600
tongue-squib1628
dictery1632
repartee1637
quip1645
good thing1671
bon mot1735
a play on (also upon) words1761
sally1781
wordplay1794
southboarda1805
mot1813
smartism1830
1671 T. Shadwell Humorists ii. 25 What does this dull Sot hope for, that does not say two good things in a day.
1694 W. Congreve Double-dealer i. i. 2 The Deuce take me if there were three good things said.
1753 J. Collier Ess. Art of Tormenting 198 Tom Neverout, who doats on being thought a wit, should look pleased with the approbation of the company for having said a good thing.
1775 S. Johnson Let. 23 June (1992) II. 233 I hope you..heard musick, and said good things.
1807 Salmagundi 18 Apr. 146 He could not for the soul of him restrain a good thing.
1840 W. M. Thackeray Paris Sketch Bk. I. 171 When we say a good thing, in the course of the night, we are wondrous lucky and pleased.
1900 Trans. Colonial Soc. Mass. 1895–7 3 487 In familiar intercourse he was one of the most engaging of companions, brilliant in conversation, sparkling with good things, and receptive of the good things of others.
1927 C. Harris Happy Pilgrimage v. 133 Who among us will ever again grin appreciatively at that idiotic British way of saying a good thing.
2000 R. Slotkin Abe (2001) i. ii. 25 Pap and Uncle Sparrow talked some: Uncle real friendly, smiling and shaking his head, even slapping the table if Pap come near saying a good thing.
3. † b. A great financial success, esp. a successful bet. Obsolete.
a. Chiefly Horse Racing. A likely success; an excellent opportunity for gain; spec. a horse that is very likely to win a race; a certainty.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by purpose used for > [noun] > racehorse > favourite
good thing1735
favourite1813
pea1888
cert1889
selection1901
nap1926
nap selection1927
stickout1930
shoo-in1950
1735 Gentleman's Mag. 5 p. iv Mr Urban, said he, you have one good thing be sure stick to that.
1796 Proc. Old Bailey 17 Feb. 373/2 Don't fail to write, for this also is a good thing, and will now be properly managed.
1831 Times 8 Jan. He would put them into a good thing if they would give him share.
1851 Racing Times 14 Oct. 267/2 These coves..thinks they has got a good thing.
1888 H. James Reverberator ii. 35 He had a genius for happy speculation, the quick, unerring instinct of a ‘good thing’.
1913 Field 4 Jan. 26/1 Master at Arms is not a big horse, and with 12 st 7 lb in the saddle he hardly looked like a good thing for the Sunbury Steeplechase.
1971 G. Morgan We are borne On 358 A good magsman can draw money at any time from the racing fraternity,..and the good hearted fellow is promised to be told when the good thing is going to win a race.
2011 Racing Post (Nexis) 23 Dec. 8 The French-bred would look something of a good thing for the race.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > [noun] > one who or that which is successful > that which is successful
success1667
good thing1764
go1780
out1843
winner1913
success story1925
socko1937
gangbuster1946
bomb1954
1764 Gentleman's & London Mag. Jan. 57/2 I speak plainly, it must be made a good thing to justify me for leaving my friends.
1795 Sporting Mag. May 64/2 If you will find money, for I have none,..I will find skill, and you shall have a good thing.
1820 Examiner No. 633. 351/2 You must have made a good thing of it if you have got the 1000l.
1883 M. E. Kennard Right Sort (1884) v. 51 Now and again..Jack Clinker managed to pull off some ‘good thing’ on the turf.
4. A course of action or state of affairs that is desirable or beneficial; a person who or thing which is commendable. Frequently as complement to non-referential it and followed by a subordinate clause or infinitive clause expressing the beneficial circumstances.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > advantage > [noun] > an advantage, benefit, or favourable circumstance > a benefit > that makes happy or prosperous > a beneficial or desirable thing
good thing1745
what the doctor ordered1873
just the job1943
1745 Duke of Newcastle Let. 3 Aug. in Corr. Dukes Richmond & Newcastle (1984) 169 It would be a good thing for the Publick, but I should much doubt the practicability of it.
1755 A. Stephen Let. 27 Sept. in W. W. Abbot Papers of George Washington (1983) II 64 It would be a good thing to have Shoe-packs or Moccosons for the Scouts.
1759 London Chron. 6 89/2 It has been observed, that it would be a good thing to teach the manual exercise of a soldier in academies.
1760 Mod. Part Universal Hist. XXII. ii. 343 Sir Robert applied himself to the judge of the people, who at the first word declared that peace was a good thing.
1787 Parl. Reg. 1781–96 XXI. 455 The Major concluded, that the opium contract was a good thing.
1833 H. Martineau French Wines & Politics v. 80 Now tell me..whether you think it a good thing or not that there should be a scarcity of wine?
1866 ‘J. H. St. A.’ tr. J. C. von Schmid Basket of Flowers xvii. 137 She has deceived my lady long enough, it is a good thing she is found out at last.
1883 Harper's Mag. Aug. 481/2 It would be a good thing if the politicians would clam-bake and barbecue, and make no speeches.
1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. No. 104. 198/2 This Shoe we have called ‘A Good Thing’, because the name signifies just what we believe the shoe is.
1930 W. C. Sellar & R. J. Yeatman 1066 & All That i. 3 The Roman Conquest was..a Good Thing, since the Britons were only natives at that time.
1930 W. C. Sellar & R. J. Yeatman 1066 & All That xxi. 29 Simon de Montfort, though only a Frenchman, was..a Good Thing.
1942 E. Waugh Put out More Flags iii. 213 He..had a liking for books; he thought them a Good Thing.
1960 Guardian 26 Aug. 8/6 We all believe that group counselling..[is] a ‘good thing’.
2003 Independent on Sunday 15 June i. 4/5 That her partner chooses not to read her blog is ‘probably a good thing’, she said.
Phrases
P1. too much of a good thing: an excessive, and hence detrimental, amount of something which is desirable and beneficial in moderation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > excessively [phrase] > that which is excessive
too much of a good thinga1616
a bit thick1884
a trifle much1930
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iv. i. 115 Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing . View more context for this quotation
1691 W. Mountfort Greenwich-Park iv. iv. 46 We Women can never have too much of a good thing, come Neice, your health.
1707 W. Oliver Pract. Diss. Bath Waters vii. 36 Some may take two Quarts; few Constitutions require more, for 'tis possible to take too much of a good thing.
1809 S. Smith Wks. (1867) I. 175 This (to use a very colloquial phrase) is surely too much of a good thing.
1852 E. C. Gaskell Let. 4 Sept. (1966) 197 We went at 1/ 2 p. 9, & did not get out till 1/ 4 to 4, which was too much of a good thing.
1895 S. Crane Red Badge of Courage vi. 66 This is too much of a good thing! Why can't somebody send us supports?
1954 J. R. R. Tolkien Fellowship of Ring i. i. 29 Some..shook their heads and thought this was too much of a good thing.
2005 C. Tudge Secret Life Trees xiv. 377 As with every input..there can be too much of a good thing.
P2. to know a good thing when one sees it and variants: to be able to recognize a situation, person, object, etc., as being desirable or worthy of appreciation.
ΚΠ
1770 Weekly Mag. 8 Nov. 162 Great things ought to be ushered in with a becoming dignity, and not come slap-dash upon people who don't know a good thing when they see it.
1845 N. P. Willis Dashes at Life with Free Pencil iv. 75/1 I am delighted to see that our great comedian, Harry Placide, is up to the lips in success... God bless those southern people—they know a good thing when they see it!
1885 Detroit Free Press 10 Aug. 2/4 The judge knows wheat from chaff, is capable of recognizing a good thing when he sees it.
1910 Homoeopathic Recorder 15 Dec. p. xi Thirty-three copies were taken by the men connected with one bright college where they know a good thing when it is presented.
1955 A. Murray Let. 2 Nov. in R. Ellison & A. Murray Trading Twelves (2000) 102 I saw hog maws and chitterlin's in the Marche Centrale. Man, these Frenchmen know a good thing when they find it.
2011 Daily Gleaner (New Brunswick) (Nexis) 4 Nov. b4 When the Diamondbacks made their offer a few days later, McDonald knew a good thing when he saw it.
P3. colloquial. on to a good thing: in a job or other situation that is pleasant, profitable, or easy; in the position of having an excellent opportunity for success, prosperity, or advantage.
ΚΠ
1873 A. B. Richards So very Human III. xxii. 369 ‘We're on to a good thing’ (whispering) ‘to-night, and no mistake.’
1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 100 As luck would have it, I managed to put the old man on to a good thing.
1910 Cent. Mag. July 356/2 She smiled sidelong at the door, as much as to say she had put her master on to a good thing.
1966 T. Frisby There's Girl in my Soup i. i. 20 You're on to a good thing, no complications and no cost.
1987 C. Reid Tea in China Cup ii, in Plays: One (1997) 51 Wey hey, I'm on to a good thing here.
2000 T. Pratchett Truth (2001) 3 All in all, he considered, he was onto a good thing.
P4. Proverb. all good things must come to an end and variants: used to express the impermanent nature of pleasurable situations, events, etc. Also good things cannot last.
ΚΠ
1867 Independent (N.Y.) 22 Aug. 8/3 All good things must have an end in this sublunary state.
1869 Daily Morning Chron. (Washington, D.C.) 19 Jan. 3/5 But all good things must come to an end, even so good a thing as this Irish comedian.
1900 Birmingham Pict. & Dart 16 Mar. 4/2 Good things cannot last for ever, and..Hamilton's excursions are not exceptions to this maxim.
1948 A. J. Cronin Shannon's Way iv. v. 263 All good things come to an end. I must go now and check my wretched linen-room.
1994 M. D. Franceschi Surface Tension xlv. 256 There is always that fear he won't be there, the suspicion that good things can't last.
2011 Sun Herald (Sydney) (Nexis) 18 Sept. 6 All good things have to end, however, and we said goodbye to the vessel in Hong Kong.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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