Goody Two-Shoes

[Sisyphus_Stone]

I think, from the contexts in which I read this term, that it means scrupulously correct in thought and deed. But it also has overtones of a certain smugness. That aside, I’m curious about the origin of the term and how widely it is used. It doesn’t make immediate sense, what do shoes have to do with goodness? For mine, it’s hardly ever used at all in Australia. I mostly hear the term from Americans but I wonder if it is exclusively a colloquailism of the US, or maybe even a regional colloquailism?

[kniz]

Goody-Two-Shoes

Goody owned only one shoe. When she was given a pair of them, she was so pleased that she showed them to everybody, saying “Two shoes”. The phrase now refers to a self-righteous, smugly virtuous person.

[sup]Follow link for more.[/sup]

[silenus]

The Master speaks.

[Nametag]

http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-goo2.htm

It comes from the title of a rather twee and moralistic nursery tale called The History of Goody Two-Shoes, which is thought to have been written by Oliver Goldsmith, and which was published in 1765 by John Newbery, one of the earliest London publishers of children’s stories. Goody owned only one shoe. When she was given a pair of them, she was so pleased that she showed them to everybody, saying “Two shoes”. The phrase now refers to a self-righteous, smugly virtuous person.

“Goody,” BTW, is short for “Goodwife”; the early American settlers known as “pilgrims” (I think it’s them) used “Goodman” and “Goodwife” instead of (say) “Mr.” and “Mrs.”

[samclem]

Cecil actually speaks a little louder in this link http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_291a.html

And he has such a way with words, it’s always a pleasure to read him.

[silenus]

I hate it when I can’t type a freaking link correctly!!! :smack:

[Eve]

Of course, Goody New-Panties was much more popular a gal.