this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2024
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[–] HeathenPope@lemmy.world 41 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I actually might be able to provide some insight to this. My wife is Balkan and the first time I called her a "Silly Goose" she became madly upset. It turns out in her language the phrase "Glupova Gusko" (Stupid Goose) is a common insult. It is considered incredibly harsh in her culture. My guess is that the phrase "Silly Goose" is borrowed from a Slavic Language and lost its harshness when it moved into English.

[–] Oisteink@feddit.nl 24 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It’s a common insult in many languages - with a lot of theories about origins. You can track medival usage of this all over Europe, but I have no knowledge about other continents.

Insults in general hold more power in honor-cultures. Your grandparents might have reacted the same way she did, while you might not feel the same.

[–] HeathenPope@lemmy.world 9 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I knew about the honor-culture bit, but I'm now curious about what other languages use it as an insult.

[–] Oisteink@feddit.nl 8 points 4 months ago

I know of at lest Nordic languages, german languages, slavic languages, Urdu, Yiddish

Some are not literal translations, but have the same meening. Like silly as a goose - not stupid. Or just beeing refered to as a goose implying simplicity, stupidity or sillyness.

The word goose by itself has extensive use un english https://www.reginacoeli.com/blog/goose-idioms.html https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goose

They do look kinda akward

[–] dukatos@lemm.ee 3 points 4 months ago

You can just say "gusko!”

[–] BodilessGaze@sh.itjust.works 34 points 4 months ago (1 children)

The silliest person I know was deadly serious and no-nonsense at work. Their silly side only came out among friends. Maybe you just need to befriend a goose?

[–] Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net 14 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Believe it or not, I am actually really serious at work, unless we are friends. I have to be super accurate all the time and I hold myself to very high standards.

Memes are a release

[–] BodilessGaze@sh.itjust.works 12 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I asked my goose friend what he thinks about this and he just honked. Though I suspect he didn't hear me, since he seemed to be busy balancing on his unicycle (his feet can't reach the pedals, so he has to flap his wings to balance)

[–] Killing_Spark@feddit.de 2 points 4 months ago

You know what I never had a picture of a silly goose in my head. But now I do. Thanks!

[–] ummthatguy@lemmy.world 19 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)
[–] Guntrigger@sopuli.xyz 5 points 4 months ago

I would say that's pretty silly.

[–] uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 4 months ago

This is why you have to run when you find a goose among your ducks.

I thought up Goose as a superhero for a street level setting, essentially she's a tough scrapper, easy to underestimate, and is really good at blending into crowds or workstaff. Mistique without the mutant shapechangey stuff.

[–] I_Miss_Daniel@lemmy.world 13 points 4 months ago

Because Honk?

They sound almost as silly as a donkey, which shares the moniker.

[–] Smorty@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I got bitten by a goose once as a kid. I fear them since then, so they really are a force to be reconned with.

[–] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

A moose once bit my sister

[–] Killing_Spark@feddit.de 2 points 4 months ago

Well I hope she's afraid of them now.

[–] Icalasari@fedia.io 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I am damned well sure I could take one (would get battered, but I'd come out on top, just need to get it by the neck once)

The problem is those fuckers live in flocks

[–] fracture@beehaw.org 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)
[–] moshtradamus666@lemmy.world 6 points 4 months ago

Well, they look kinda silly when they aren't trying fight something

i think this would probably explain the phrase "silly goose"

I imagine the whole point is to say that someone is "sillier than a goose" famously known for, not being silly at all. Arguing that you are so silly, that you look like a goose being silly.

[–] BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

If you got a problem with gooses then you got a problem with me, and I suggest you let that one marinate!

[–] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 months ago