Idioms are colorful expressions that make our language more vibrant and interesting. They help us convey feelings and ideas in creative ways that don’t always directly align with their literal meanings. Idioms are used in everyday life, adding depth to conversations and making communication more engaging. Understanding these expressions can help you connect better with others, especially in casual conversations.
In this post, we’ll explore 50 idioms that use the word “good.” These idioms range from simple phrases to ones that express deeper meaning. We will also look at their meanings, provide examples, and suggest some alternative ways of saying the same thing. Whether you’re a teen looking to enhance your vocabulary or just someone interested in learning new expressions, these idioms will add some fun to your conversations.
Let’s dive into these 50 idioms for good and start using them in our daily interactions!
Idioms for Good
1. Good as gold
Meaning: Someone who behaves very well or is well-behaved.
In a Sentence: The kids were as good as gold during the long flight.
Other Ways to Say: Well-behaved, On their best behavior
2. Good things come to those who wait
Meaning: Patience will eventually bring rewards.
In a Sentence: I’ve been waiting for my promotion for months, but I believe good things come to those who wait.
Other Ways to Say: Patience is a virtue, All in good time
3. Good to go
Meaning: Ready to proceed or start.
In a Sentence: I’ve packed everything for the trip; I’m good to go!
Other Ways to Say: Ready, Set to go
4. Good for a laugh
Meaning: Something or someone that provides amusement or entertainment.
In a Sentence: His jokes are always good for a laugh!
Other Ways to Say: Fun, Entertaining
5. Good egg
Meaning: A person who is kind, trustworthy, and reliable.
In a Sentence: Sarah is such a good egg; she always helps me out when I need it.
Other Ways to Say: Reliable person, Kind-hearted
6. The good old days
Meaning: Referring to a time in the past that is remembered fondly.
In a Sentence: I miss the good old days when we used to hang out every weekend.
Other Ways to Say: Nostalgic times, The past
7. In good hands
Meaning: Being taken care of by someone capable.
In a Sentence: Don’t worry about the dog; it’s in good hands with the sitter.
Other Ways to Say: Well taken care of, In safe hands
8. A good turn
Meaning: A helpful or kind act.
In a Sentence: I did him a good turn by helping him with his homework.
Other Ways to Say: Kind deed, Helpful act
9. Good grief
Meaning: An expression of surprise or disbelief.
In a Sentence: Good grief! I can’t believe how much homework I have.
Other Ways to Say: Oh my goodness, What on earth
10. Good at something
Meaning: Being skilled or proficient at something.
In a Sentence: She’s really good at solving math problems.
Other Ways to Say: Skilled, Talented
11. Good vibes
Meaning: Positive energy or feelings.
In a Sentence: I love being around her; she always brings good vibes!
Other Ways to Say: Positive energy, Uplifting atmosphere
12. For the good of
Meaning: Done to benefit or help something or someone.
In a Sentence: They sacrificed their time for the good of the team.
Other Ways to Say: For the benefit of, For the welfare of
13. A good fit
Meaning: Something or someone that is perfectly suited to a situation or role.
In a Sentence: I think I’m a good fit for this job because of my experience in the industry.
Other Ways to Say: Perfect match, Well-suited
14. A good shot
Meaning: A good chance of succeeding or achieving something.
In a Sentence: If we hurry, we still have a good shot at making it to the concert on time.
Other Ways to Say: A good chance, A real opportunity
15. A good sport
Meaning: Someone who is fair and pleasant, even when they don’t win or things don’t go their way.
In a Sentence: She didn’t win the game, but she was a good sport about it.
Other Ways to Say: Gracious, Fair-minded
16. The good, the bad, and the ugly
Meaning: Referring to all aspects of a situation, both good and bad.
In a Sentence: This year has been a mix of the good, the bad, and the ugly, but I’ve learned a lot.
Other Ways to Say: The highs and lows, The ups and downs
17. A good cause
Meaning: A charitable or worthy cause.
In a Sentence: We raised a lot of money for a good cause at the charity event.
Other Ways to Say: Worthwhile cause, Noble cause
18. Good intentions
Meaning: A desire to do something positive, even if the result isn’t successful.
In a Sentence: He had good intentions when he tried to help, but things didn’t work out.
Other Ways to Say: Noble efforts, Positive aims
19. The good word
Meaning: Positive or supportive information about someone or something.
In a Sentence: I’ve heard the good word about your new project; keep up the great work!
Other Ways to Say: Positive feedback, Compliment
20. Good with words
Meaning: Skilled at using language effectively.
In a Sentence: She’s really good with words, always knowing just what to say in any situation.
Other Ways to Say: Eloquent, Articulate
21. Good Samaritan
Meaning: A person who helps others selflessly, often without expecting anything in return.
In a Sentence: The old man was a good Samaritan, helping the woman pick up her groceries.
Other Ways to Say: Kind-hearted person, Helpful soul
22. Make good time
Meaning: To travel or complete something quickly.
In a Sentence: We made good time on the drive to the beach and arrived ahead of schedule.
Other Ways to Say: Be quick, Get there fast
23. Good to know
Meaning: Useful or helpful information.
In a Sentence: Oh, you’re staying open late tonight? That’s good to know!
Other Ways to Say: Helpful info, Useful detail
24. Good hands
Meaning: Being in a place where someone is taking care of you or the situation.
In a Sentence: Don’t worry about the party—it’s in good hands with her in charge.
Other Ways to Say: Safe hands, Well cared for
25. In good shape
Meaning: Being physically healthy or in a good condition.
In a Sentence: After a few months of working out, I’m finally in good shape!
Other Ways to Say: In top form, Physically fit
26. Good to go
Meaning: Ready to begin or continue.
In a Sentence: Everything is packed and set; we’re good to go!
Other Ways to Say: Ready, All set
27. Good job
Meaning: A compliment for doing something well.
In a Sentence: You did a good job on the presentation today!
Other Ways to Say: Well done, Great work
28. Good news travels fast
Meaning: Positive information or events spread quickly.
In a Sentence: Once the school heard about the new play, the good news traveled fast.
Other Ways to Say: Word gets around, Good news spreads quickly
29. A good omen
Meaning: A sign of something positive or fortunate happening in the future.
In a Sentence: Finding a four-leaf clover is a good omen for the upcoming year.
Other Ways to Say: Positive sign, Lucky symbol
30. Good sense of humor
Meaning: The ability to understand and appreciate humor.
In a Sentence: He has a good sense of humor, which makes him great company.
Other Ways to Say: Funny, Entertaining
31. Good on paper
Meaning: Appearing ideal in theory, but possibly not in practice.
In a Sentence: The new job sounds great on paper, but I’m not sure about the long hours.
Other Ways to Say: Theoretically perfect, In theory
32. Good riddance
Meaning: A phrase used to express relief when someone or something undesirable is gone.
In a Sentence: I’m glad to see that old broken chair go—good riddance!
Other Ways to Say: Thank goodness, Finally gone
33. Good for you
Meaning: A phrase used to express approval or praise.
In a Sentence: You finished your project early? Good for you!
Other Ways to Say: Well done, That’s impressive
34. All in good time
Meaning: Things will happen when the time is right.
In a Sentence: Don’t rush the process; all in good time, everything will come together.
Other Ways to Say: Patience, When the time is right
35. Make good on
Meaning: To fulfill a promise or commitment.
In a Sentence: I’ll make good on my promise to help you study for the test.
Other Ways to Say: Keep a promise, Follow through
36. Good fortune
Meaning: A stroke of luck or good luck.
In a Sentence: Winning the scholarship was a bit of good fortune I didn’t expect.
Other Ways to Say: Good luck, Lucky break
37. Good call
Meaning: A wise or correct decision.
In a Sentence: Choosing the pizza place for dinner was a good call.
Other Ways to Say: Smart choice, Wise decision
38. A good reputation
Meaning: Being known for having positive qualities or characteristics.
In a Sentence: She has a good reputation for being hardworking and honest.
Other Ways to Say: Positive reputation, Good name
39. A good idea
Meaning: A smart or creative thought or plan.
In a Sentence: Organizing a study group is a good idea to help us prepare for the exam.
Other Ways to Say: Brilliant thought, Smart plan
40. Good-natured
Meaning: Having a friendly, pleasant, and easygoing temperament.
In a Sentence: He’s such a good-natured person; he never gets upset over small things.
Other Ways to Say: Easygoing, Pleasant personality
41. Good work ethic
Meaning: The quality of working hard and being dedicated.
In a Sentence: Her good work ethic makes her stand out in the office.
Other Ways to Say: Hardworking, Dedicated
42. Good company
Meaning: Enjoyable to be with or spend time with.
In a Sentence: He’s always good company, and I enjoy hanging out with him.
Other Ways to Say: Fun to be around, Enjoyable person
43. A good heart
Meaning: Being kind, caring, and generous.
In a Sentence: She has a good heart and always helps those in need.
Other Ways to Say: Kind-hearted, Caring nature
44. Good cheer
Meaning: Being in a happy and positive mood.
In a Sentence: The party was full of good cheer, with everyone laughing and having fun.
Other Ways to Say: Happy mood, Positive vibes
45. A good idea at the time
Meaning: A decision or action that seemed smart at the time but may not have been the best choice.
In a Sentence: It seemed like a good idea at the time to skip class, but now I regret it.
Other Ways to Say: At the moment, Appeared smart then
46. Good to the last drop
Meaning: Something that is completely satisfying until the very end.
In a Sentence: The coffee was so good, it was good to the last drop.
Other Ways to Say: Satisfying, Enjoyable until the end
47. A good fit for the job
Meaning: Someone who is well-suited for a particular role or task.
In a Sentence: After the interview, it’s clear that she’s a good fit for the job.
Other Ways to Say: Well-qualified, Perfect candidate
48. In good spirits
Meaning: Feeling happy and positive.
In a Sentence: He was in good spirits after hearing the exciting news.
Other Ways to Say: In a good mood, Happy
49. Good behavior
Meaning: Acting in a respectful or appropriate manner.
In a Sentence: She’s always on her best behavior when guests come over.
Other Ways to Say: Well-behaved, Polite conduct
50. Good at heart
Meaning: Having kind and genuine intentions.
In a Sentence: Despite his tough exterior, he’s good at heart and always helps others.
Other Ways to Say: Kind-hearted, Benevolent
Exercise to Practice
Fill in the blanks:
- He’s a ______________ for the position, with years of experience in the field.
- After a long hike, the water was ______________, refreshing us until the very last drop.
- She’s always ______________ and makes everyone around her feel welcome.
- The party was full of ______________, and we danced all night.
- That seemed like a ______________ to skip dinner and head straight to the concert.
- They did everything for the ______________ of the community.
- I’ve heard only ______________ about her performance at work.
- It’s ______________ to study in small, regular intervals rather than cramming all night.
- The vacation was ______________, and we came back fully relaxed and recharged.
- Don’t worry; you’re ______________ to make it through the interview with your skills.
Answers:
good fit, good to the last drop, good spirits, good cheer, good idea at the time, good for, good word, good for you, good idea, good riddance
Conclusion
Idioms are an enjoyable and impactful way to improve your communication. By using idioms in daily conversations, you not only make your language more colorful but also connect better with others. The 50 idioms for good in this post will surely add depth to your vocabulary, whether you’re trying to express positivity, patience, or satisfaction.
Keep practicing these expressions, and soon you’ll find that using them will become second nature. Whether you use them to inspire confidence, share good news, or describe a great situation, idioms are a powerful tool for making your language both creative and relatable.
