gone

(a) gone goose

someone or something that has departed or run away. Surely, the burglar is a gone goose by now. The child was a gone goose, and we did not know where to look for him.

See also: goose

all gone

used up; finished; over with. Oh, the strawberry jelly is all gone. We used to have wonderful parties, but those days are all gone.

all over creation and all over hell and half of Georgia; all over hell and gone; to hell and gone

Rur. everywhere. Little Billy had his toys spread out all over creation. It took forever to clean up after him. They're looking all over creation, trying to find the missing man. Tom has traveled all over hell and half of Georgia trying to find the man who done him wrong.

See also: creation

dead and gone 

1. Lit. [of a person] long dead. Old Gert's been dead and gone for quite a spell. When I'm dead and gone, I hope folks remember me at my best.

2. Fig. [of a thing] gone long ago. That kind of thinking is dead and gone. The horse-and-buggy days are dead and gone.

See also: and, dead

far gone 

1. in an extreme state, usually an irrational or intoxicated state. Wow, that chick is far gone. Listen to her rave. He was too far gone to make any sense.

2. intoxicated. Larry's far gone and looking sick. Wow, is she ever far gone!

See also: far

going, going, gone 

1. [in an auction] close to being sold, almost sold, sold. Going, going, gone. The new owner is the handsome gentleman in the back row.

2. Fig. disappearing and finally gone. The little car is going, going, gone.

gone but not forgotten

Cliché gone or dead and still remembered. The good days we used to have together are gone, but not forgotten. Uncle Harry is gone but not forgotten. The stain where he spilled the wine is still visible in the parlor carpet.

See also: but

gone on

Euph. died. My husband, Tom—he's gone on, you know—was a great one for golf. Let us remember those who have gone on before.

gone to meet one's maker

Euph. died. Poor old Bob has gone to meet his maker. After a long illness, Reggie went to meet his maker.

See also: maker, meet

gone with the wind

Fig. gone as if taken away by the wind. (A phrase made famous by the Margaret Mitchell novel and subsequent film Gone with the Wind. The phrase is used to make gone have a stronger force.) Everything we worked for was gone with the wind.

See also: wind

has come and gone

has already arrived and has already departed. No, Joy is not here. She's come and gone. Sorry, you are too late for your appointment. The doctor has come and gone.

See also: and, come, has

Here today, (and) gone tomorrow.

Prov. Available now, but soon to be gone. (Used to describe something that does not last-often an opportunity). The stores near my house don't stay in business very long—here today, and gone tomorrow. If you want this carpet, buy it now. This sale price is here today, gone tomorrow.

See also: here, tomorrow

I'm gone.

Inf. an expression said just before leaving. (See also I'm out of here.) Bob: Well, that's all. I'm gone. Bill: See ya! Jane: I'm gone. See you guys. John: See you, Jane. Fred: Bye, Jane.

long gone

gone a long time ago; used up a long time ago. The ice cream and cake are long gone. You are simply too late for the refreshments.

See also: long

lost and gone forever

lost; permanently lost. My poor doggy is lost and gone forever. My money fell out of my pocket and I am sure that it is lost and gone forever.

See also: and, forever, lost

to hell and gone 

1. Inf. very much gone; lost completely. (Use hell with caution.) All my hard work is to hell and gone. When you see everything you've planned to hell and gone, you get kind of angry.

2. Go to all over creation.

See also: and, hell

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be gone on somebody   (informal)

to be very attracted to someone Sue's really gone on this new boyfriend of hers.

See gone for a burton

gone for a burton  (British old-fashioned)

to be broken, spoiled or dead There's our quiet evening gone for a burton!

here today, gone tomorrow

if something or someone is here today, gone tomorrow, they only exist or stay in one place for a short time He had a string of girlfriends, but they were always here today, gone tomorrow.

See also: here, tomorrow

went/had gone out with the ark  (British & Australian humorous)

if an object or method went out with the ark, it is not used any more These old manual printing presses went out with the ark - everything's computerized these days.

See also: ark, out

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here today, gone tomorrow

appearing or existing only for a short time He had a string of girlfriends, but they were always here today, gone tomorrow.

See also: here, tomorrow