goose pimples
MediumInformal, Common
Definition
Meaning
The temporary small, raised bumps on the skin, caused by cold, fear, or strong emotion, where each hair follicle stands up.
A physical sign of a strong, often involuntary, emotional reaction such as awe, fear, excitement, or a feeling of cold.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers specifically to the physical skin reaction. While 'goose bumps' is more clinical, 'goose pimples' can sometimes carry a slightly more vivid, childlike, or colloquial connotation, emphasising the bumpy texture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'goose pimples' is standard, though 'goosebumps' is understood and becoming more common. In the US, 'goosebumps' (often as one word) is the dominant term, with 'goose pimples' being less frequent and sometimes perceived as more old-fashioned or British.
Connotations
UK: Neutral/common. US: Slightly quaint, literary, or British-sounding.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English; lower frequency in US English compared to 'goosebumps'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] gets goose pimples.[Stimulus] gives [Experiencer] goose pimples.Goose pimples [break out/rise] on [Experiencer's] arms.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It gave me goose pimples the size of marbles. (hyperbolic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in storytelling: 'His proposal gave investors goose pimples.'
Academic
Rare outside of medical or physiological contexts, where 'pilomotor reflex' or 'horripilation' is preferred.
Everyday
Common: 'I got goose pimples watching that scary film.'
Technical
In dermatology/physiology, more precise terms like 'pilocrection' or 'horripilation' are used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- My skin goose-pimpled in the chilly air. (rare, poetic)
American English
- The eerie silence made her skin goose-pimple. (rare, literary)
adjective
British English
- She had goose-pimpled arms after the swim. (rare, descriptive)
American English
- He rubbed his goose-pimpled skin to get warm. (rare, descriptive)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I get goose pimples when I am very cold.
- The cold water gave me goose pimples.
- Listening to that beautiful song always gives me goose pimples.
- Her arms were covered in goose pimples after she came out of the sea.
- The ghost story was so vividly told that goose pimples erupted on my arms.
- A sudden draught of cold air sent a wave of goose pimples across her skin.
- The raw emotion in his voice was enough to raise goose pimples on even the most jaded listener.
- She felt a premonition, a subtle tingling that began as goose pimples at the nape of her neck.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a plucked goose with its skin covered in tiny bumps where the feathers were – that's what your skin looks like when you're cold or scared.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SKIN IS THE SURFACE OF A BIRD (specifically a plucked goose). / INTENSE EMOTION IS A PHYSICAL FORCE AFFECTING THE SKIN.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calques like 'гусиная кожа' (literally 'goose skin') as it's not the standard idiom. The standard Russian term is 'мурашки' (small ants). Translating it as 'мурашки по коже' captures the meaning perfectly.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'goose-pimples' (with a hyphen) is less standard than the spaced form. Incorrect: Using it as a singular 'goose pimple' (almost never used).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'goose pimples' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same physiological reaction. 'Goose pimples' is more common in British English, while 'goosebumps' (often one word) is dominant in American English.
Almost never. The phenomenon is almost always referred to in the plural: 'goose pimples' or 'goosebumps'.
Horripilation, piloerection, or the pilomotor reflex. In medical contexts, 'cutis anserina' is also used.
No, they are caused by the contraction of tiny muscles at the base of hair follicles (arrector pili). This can be triggered by cold, fear, awe, excitement, nostalgia, or even certain musical passages.
Explore