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.
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.
I knew about the honor-culture bit, but I’m now curious about what other languages use it as an insult.
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
You can just say "gusko!”
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?
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
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)
You know what I never had a picture of a silly goose in my head. But now I do. Thanks!
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.
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.
A moose once bit my sister
Well I hope she’s afraid of them now.
I would say that’s pretty silly.
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.
If you got a problem with gooses then you got a problem with me, and I suggest you let that one marinate!
Because Honk?
They sound almost as silly as a donkey, which shares the moniker.
Here’s your silly goose right here
Well, they look kinda silly when they aren’t trying fight something
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
