gold

*good as gold

Cliché very good. (Usually used to describe children. *Also: as ∼.) Mother: Thank you for taking care of Gretchen; I hope she hasn't been too much trouble. Grandmother: Not at all; she's been as good as gold. We knew that Daddy would not read us a bedtime story unless we behaved, so we tried to be good as gold.

See also: good

(a) gold mine of information

Fig. someone or something that is full of information. Grandfather is a gold mine of information about World War I. The new encyclopedia is a positive gold mine of useful information.

See also: information, mine

All that glitters is not gold, and All that glistens is not gold.

Prov. Just because something looks attractive does not mean it is genuine or valuable. (Often said as a warning.) Hollywood may look like an exciting place to live, but I don't think you should move there. All that glitters is not gold. I know Susie is popular and pretty, but don't befooled by that. All that glitters is not gold.

See also: glitter

have a heart of gold

Cliché to be generous, sincere, and friendly. Mary is such a lovely person. She has a heart of gold. You think Tom stole your watch? Impossible! He has a heart of gold.

See also: have, heart

pot of gold 

1. Lit. a container filled with gold, as in myth guarded by a leprechaun. I was hoping to find a pot of gold in the cellar, but there were only cobwebs.

2. Fig. an imaginary reward. Whoever gets to the porch first wins a pot of gold.

See also: pot

sitting on a gold mine

Fig. in control of something very valuable; in control of something potentially very valuable. When I found out how much the old book was worth, I realized that I was sitting on a gold mine. Mary's land is valuable. She is sitting on a gold mine.

See also: mine, sitting

worth its weight in gold

Fig. very valuable. This book is worth its weight in gold. Oh, Bill. You're wonderful. You're worth your weight in gold.

See also: weight, worth

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a gold digger  (old-fashioned)

a woman who has relationships with rich men so that they will give her money I'm not saying she's a gold digger, but how come all her boyfriends have been rich?

All that glistens/glitters is not gold.  (British, American & Australian) also All that glisters is not gold. (British literary)

something that you say to warn someone that sometimes people or things that appear attractive have no real value This film has an all-star cast, but all that glisters is not gold. It fails because of its weak story.

See also: glisten

be as good as gold

if a child is as good as gold, they behave very well The children were as good as gold today.

See also: good

be worth its/your weight in gold

to be extremely useful or valuable A book that could tell me in simple language how to use this computer would be worth its weight in gold. Really good experienced singers are worth their weight in gold to the choir.

See also: weight, worth

have a heart of gold

to be extremely kind and helpful She'll do anything for anyone - she's got a heart of gold.

See also: have, heart

like gold dust  (British & Australian) also like gold (American)

if things or people are like gold dust, they are difficult to get because a lot of people want them Tickets for the Coldplay concert were like gold dust. We were really lucky to get them. Skilled workers are like gold in the engineering industry.

See strike gold

See also: dust, like

strike gold  (informal)

1. to become rich Some investors have struck gold investing in airlines.

2. to win a gold medal (= a round piece of metal given as a prize) in a sports competition Not since the 1964 Olympics, when Ann Packer and Mary Rand struck gold have women's expectations been so high.

See also: strike

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a heart of gold

a kind and generous character He plays the part of a tough cop with a heart of gold.

Opposite of: a heart of stone

See also: heart

strike gold

1. to become rich, happy, or successful The actor has struck gold with his latest movie.

2. to win a sports competition She expects to strike gold in the world championship.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of strike gold (to find gold in the ground)

See also: strike

worth your/its weight in gold

extremely useful or valuable User-friendly software is worth its weight in gold. Experienced singers are worth their weight in gold because they bring strength to the choir.

Etymology: based on the idea that gold is the most valuable metal

See also: weight, worth