gracious

a gracious plenty

An adequate amount, typically in the context of food. Thanks to all of your generous donations, we have a gracious plenty to bring down to the homeless shelter. No second helpings for me, please—I've already had a gracious plenty. Look at this spread! There's certain a gracious plenty of dishes to choose from.

See also: gracious, plenty

good gracious

A mild exclamation of surprise, alarm, dismay, annoyance, or exasperation. Good gracious, look at the time! How is it nearly midnight already? Good gracious, Bill, would it kill you to take out the trash once in a while? Good gracious, that cyclist nearly hit me!

See also: good, gracious

goodness gracious

A mild exclamation of surprise, alarm, dismay, annoyance, or exasperation. Goodness gracious, look at the time! How is it nearly midnight already? Goodness gracious, Bill, would it kill you to take out the trash once in a while? Goodness gracious, that cyclist nearly hit me!

See also: goodness, gracious

goodness gracious me

A mild exclamation of surprise, alarm, dismay, annoyance, or exasperation. Goodness gracious me, look at the time! How is it nearly midnight already? Goodness gracious me, I'll never get this report finished on time! What's that black mark on the ceiling? Goodness gracious me, it's a spider! Help!

See also: goodness, gracious

oh my goodness gracious

A mild exclamation of surprise, alarm, dismay, annoyance, or exasperation. Oh my goodness gracious, what a generous gift! Oh my goodness gracious! Don't scare me like that!

See also: goodness, gracious, oh

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

(a) gracious plenty

 and an elegant sufficiency

Euph. enough (food). No more, thanks. I have a gracious plenty on my plate. At Thanksgiving, we always have an elegant sufficiency and are mighty thankful for it.

See also: gracious, plenty

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

goodness gracious

Also, good gracious; gracious sakes. Exclamation of surprise, dismay, or alarm, as in Goodness gracious! You've forgotten your ticket. Both goodness and gracious originally alluded to the good (or grace) of God, but these colloquial expressions, which date from the 1700s, are not considered either vulgar or blasphemous.

See also: goodness, gracious

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.