GOAT

See also: goat, Goat, G. O. A. T., G.O.A.T., and go at

English

Alternative forms

• G.O.A.T., G. O. A. T., GoAT, GoaT, Goat, goat, 🐐

Etymology

Abbreviation.

Noun

GOAT (plural GOATs)

1. (slang) Acronym of greatest of all time.
2. (UK, politics, informal) A member of the "government of all the talents" proposed by British prime minister Gordon Brown.
   • 2009, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Public Administration Select Committee, Good government: eighth report of session 2008-09, volume 2

     The best talents; of course he was a GOAT.

   • 2010, Philip Johnston, Bad Laws:

     Lord Jones of Birmingham, aka Digby Jones, the former director general of the CBI, said that in his year in the government as a so-called GOAT (a member of the Government Of All The Talents) he found the civil service to be 'honest, stuffed full of decent people who work hard'.

   • 2011, Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Public Administration Select Committee, Bernard Jenkin, Smaller Government: Report, Together with Formal Minutes

     One of the problems with the GOATs was that the parliamentary and political role was undersold to them.

Usage notes

• Referring to something or someone as the GOAT can indicate support or appreciation while not necessarily being literal; for example, "my GOAT" can refer to a strong preference without the context of competition and ranking. Online, "my GOAT" in particular is also used as a casual, complimentary term of address. Compare my man.

Derived terms

• GOATed
• throat goat

Related terms

(greatest of all time):

• all-time
• BOAT
• of all time
• WOAT

Anagrams

• Gøta, TOGA, Toga, atgo, toga