Goose Is Cooked — Idiom, Meaning & Origin

The idiom your goose is cooked isn’t about poultry preparation; it means that you’re in deep trouble or your downfall is imminent. Eeek! But how did we get from roasted bird to impending doom? Stick around for a smorgasbord of wordy wisdom as I lay out all the facts surrounding this age-old expression!

What Is the Meaning of “Your Goose Is Cooked” Idiom?

When someone says your goose is cooked, they’re not announcing that Thanksgiving dinner is ready. They’re actually suggesting that you’re in a predicament or that your defeat in something is inevitable. Think of a chess player making a checkmate move—their opponent’s goose is well and truly cooked.

Origin and Etymology of Your Goose Is Cooked

The phrase your goose is cooked is said to come from a 15th-century story about a man named Jan Hus, who was burned at the stake for heresy. It was a harsh time back then! Hus translates to goose in his native Czech.

It grew in popularity as a common saying during the 1800s. Quite the intense origin for an idiom that now mostly pops up in board games and playful banter, isn’t it?

Goose Is Cooked Synonyms

Even with a weird phrase like this, there are still alternatives to using it. If you need some ideas, try any of these expressions instead.

• You’re in hot water
• The chips are down
• Done for
• Ruined
• You’re in deep trouble
• In a pickle
• Your number is up

Your Goose Is Cooked Examples in a Sentence

My motto is that context is key. That’s why I always share sentence examples to better illustrate how a phrase should be used.

• Oh, your goose is cooked if Mom finds out you skipped school, bro.
• Jane’s goose was cooked when she missed the project deadline and failed to submit her manuscript on time.
• If we don’t finish this assignment by Friday, our goose is cooked.
• The moment the boss saw the massive error in the report, Tom knew his goose was cooked.
• Once the secret was out about the affair, Anna’s goose was cooked.
• If the teacher catches you cheating, your goose is cooked for the rest of the year.
• The moment he hit the mailbox with his father’s sports car, he knew his goose was cooked.
• When the other team scored the third goal with only seconds left in the game, we knew our goose was cooked.
• If I don’t get this stain out of my mom’s white rug before the party ends, my goose is cooked!
• When she saw the spilled paint on the new flooring, she knew her goose was cooked.

Cooking Up a Storm of Idioms

Your goose is cooked isn’t about dinner, but disaster. I think slangy idioms like this make language so much fun, so learn as many as you can with our helpful guides. They break down all the details in an easy-to-understand way.