golden goose: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-LowInformal, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “golden goose” mean?
A source of great and continuing wealth or profit, often one that is overexploited to the point of its own destruction.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A source of great and continuing wealth or profit, often one that is overexploited to the point of its own destruction.
Any asset, privilege, business, or person that generates significant, reliable, and often seemingly effortless benefits or income.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences; the idiom is identical in form and use.
Connotations
Identical connotations, rooted in the same shared fable.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American business/political journalism, but common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “golden goose” in a Sentence
[Subject] is/acts as a golden goose for [Beneficiary][Agent] killed/risks killing the golden gooseDon't kill the golden goose that lays the golden eggs.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a highly profitable product line, division, or client that funds other operations.
Academic
Used in economics, business studies, or political science to critique short-term exploitation of resources.
Everyday
Used to describe a job, investment, or side hustle that provides excellent, steady income.
Technical
Not a technical term; remains figurative across fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “golden goose”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “golden goose”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “golden goose”
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'a golden goose opportunity' – incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'goose that laid the golden egg,' which refers to a single instance of luck, not a continuing source.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the term itself is neutral, describing a valuable asset. However, it is most often used in contexts warning about the risk of losing that asset through greed or poor management.
They are very close synonyms. 'Golden goose' more strongly evokes the fable and the specific danger of the source being destroyed. 'Cash cow' is a more neutral business term from the Boston Consulting Group matrix, with less inherent narrative of potential ruin.
Yes, figuratively. For example, a star athlete who brings championship wins and massive revenue to a sports team could be called the franchise's golden goose.
Use it as a countable noun phrase, usually with a determiner (a, the, our, etc.). Example: "The patent was their golden goose for twenty years." The most common verb collocation is 'kill.'
A source of great and continuing wealth or profit, often one that is overexploited to the point of its own destruction.
Golden goose is usually informal, figurative in register.
Golden goose: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡəʊl.dən ˈɡuːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡoʊl.dən ˈɡuːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't kill the golden goose.”
- “The goose that lays the golden eggs.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a literal goose that lays solid gold eggs. If you get greedy and kill it to get all the gold inside at once, you get nothing more. The phrase warns against destroying a long-term source of wealth for short-term gain.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEALTH IS A PRECIOUS OBJECT PRODUCED BY A LIVING ENTITY / GREED IS DESTRUCTIVE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary warning associated with the term 'golden goose'?