as good as gold
Meaning
Extremely well-behaved, obedient, or reliably good (often said of children).
Origin
Recorded from the 19th century. It compares someone’s behavior or reliability to gold, a symbol of high value, purity, and trustworthiness.
Notes
A warm compliment, most often about children or pets; can also describe someone as trustworthy/reliable. Casual, spoken tone.
Examples
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After her nap, the toddler was as good as gold and played quietly.
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He promised he'd be as good as gold while we were away, and he really was.
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The students were as good as gold during the museum tour.
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Give the dog a treat and he’ll be as good as gold for the rest of the evening.
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She was as good as gold at the dentist, even without her mom in the room.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used with a linking verb: “be as good as gold.” Fairly fixed; “good” and “gold” don’t normally change. Can take intensifiers (e.g., “really as good as gold”).
Synonyms
- well-behaved
- as good as pie
- obedient
- angelic
- trustworthy
Antonyms
- bad as the devil
- a handful
- mischievous