say boo to a goose

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English

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Verb

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say boo to a goose (third-person singular simple present says boo to a goose, present participle saying boo to a goose, simple past and past participle said boo to a goose)

  1. (chiefly in the negative) To have courage and be assertive.

Usage notes

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This phrase is chiefly used in the negative, and in conditional constructs. For example, she wouldn't (or couldn't) say boo to a goose = she is very timid.