play gooseberry
(dated, UK, _, slang) To be an unwanted third party accompanying two lovers, to serve as a chaperon.
Definitions
(dated, UK, _, slang) To be an unwanted third party accompanying two lovers, to serve as a chaperon.
"Well, new experiences are broadening. Come along, and you'll be able to sympathize with all poor souls who have to play gooseberry often.
Comments
Used in
Have a better definition?
Add your own interpretation of "play gooseberry".
🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang
UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.
See all British & Irish slang slang on Slangora.
Tags
Other words near "play gooseberry" (P)
Browse all slang words starting with P.
Related terms
People also read
Semantically related
- play Old Gooseberry78%
(archaic, idiomatic, UK) To play the devil; to make mischief.
- play Old Gooseberry75%
(archaic, idiomatic, UK) To suddenly put a stop to a disturbance by force or threats.
- gooseberryish72%
(UK, informal) Of a person: feeling neither necessary nor wanted in a given situation.
- goosegog69%
A charmingly informal British word for a gooseberry — the tart, hairy little fruit that shows up in crumbles, fools, and jam. The word has a playful, childlike quality that makes it a staple of casual kitchen chat across the UK. You'll hear it most in older generations and rural areas, but it never really went away. Perfect for markets, allotments, and anyone who takes their summer fruit seriously.
- goosegob66%
(UK, dialect) gooseberry.