play the giddy goat

To act the fool

goat /gōt/

1. A horned ruminant animal (genus Capra) of Europe, Asia and N Africa, related to the sheep
2. (with cap and the) Capricorn
3. A lecher (figurative)
4. A foolish person (informal)
5. (in pl) the wicked (Bible)

goatˈish adjective

1. Resembling a goat, esp in smell
2. Lustful
3. Foolish

goatˈishly adverb

goatˈishness noun

goatˈling noun

A young goat in its second year

goatˈy adjective

goatˈ-antelope noun

A goatlike antelope, or an animal intermediate between goat and antelope, such as the chamois and the goral

goatˈ-fig noun

The wild fig

goatˈfish noun (N American)

The red mullet

goat fuck noun (US taboo sl)

A chaotic situation, thoroughly confused muddle

goatˈ-god noun

Pan

goatˈherd noun

A person who tends goats

goatˈ-moth noun

A large moth whose larvae feed on wood and exude a goatlike smell

goatˈ-sallow or goatˈ-willow noun

The great sallow (Salix caprea)

goat'sˈ-beard noun

1. A composite plant of the genus Tragopogon, John-go-to-bed-at-noon
2. A herbaceous perennial with ornamental foliage (Aruncus sylvester)

goat'sˈ-hair noun

Cirrus clouds

goatˈskin noun

1. The skin of the goat
2. Leather, or a wineskin, made from it

goat'sˈ-rue noun

A papilionaceous border and fodder plant (Galega officinalis)

goat'sˈ-thorn noun

A shrub of the genus Astragalus

goatˈsucker noun (chiefly N American)

The nightjar, a bird similar to the swift, falsely thought to suck goats' udders for milk

goatˈweed noun

Goutweed

goat-willow see goat-sallow above.

get someone's goat (informal)

To annoy or rile someone

play (or act) the (giddy) goat see under giddy