# The Phrase "But Good," Used As An Adverb: Is It A Regionalism? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 14, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128 "2017-01-14T17:36:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/1 "2017-01-14T17:36:57Z")
They use this a lot on _The Goldbergs_ which takes place in suburban Philadelphia. As in: ANGRY PARENT: Don’t you [do this action]! ANGRY CHILD: Oh I’m doing it! I’m doing it but good! Is this an East Coast regionalism? Growing up in central Illinois, I never heard it used in everyday speech. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/2 "2017-01-14T17:48:17Z")
The context I usually heard it in was “If you don’t stop doing that, you’re going to get it but good!” California 1960-70s. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/3 "2017-01-14T17:50:32Z")
I’ve never ever heard that phrase and I’ve lived on both coasts. It doesn’t make any sense to me honestly… ---
**Author:** ![NeonMadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@NeonMadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeonMadman)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/4 "2017-01-14T21:36:06Z")
I grew up in Massachusetts and currently live in New Jersey. I heard that phrase for much of my life, but can’t remember hearing it much these last few years. I think it might be an older phrase that has largely disappeared from use. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/5 "2017-01-14T22:09:51Z")
It’s similar to “And how!” Right? It’s not something I’m really used to seeing or hearing, but I’m familiar enough with it to know what the thread title was referring to (and I’ve never seen _The Goldbergs_). ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/6 "2017-01-15T02:42:04Z")
I grew up in the Philadelphia area and have never heard it. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/7 "2017-01-15T02:48:31Z")
I grew up in Indiana and have heard it all of my life. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/8 "2017-01-15T03:00:56Z")
It’s a superlative, like “I’m gonna get you but good!” meaning I’m really \*really \*gonna get you! I’d have heard it from my mom, who I think was raised in Indiana, but I’m sure I’ve heard it in both Wisconsin & California, the two main places I’ve lived. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/9 "2017-01-15T03:09:03Z")
I heard it growing up (Maryland, 60’s). ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/10 "2017-01-15T03:37:35Z")
This website claims that it was first used in the U.S. in the 1950’s: [https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/qhvebay](https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/qhvebay) ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/11 "2017-01-15T03:37:51Z")
I’ve lived almost my whole life in Ontario (Canada), and I’m quite familiar with the phrase. I’ve almost certainly used it myself. ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/12 "2017-01-15T15:11:07Z")
I’m British – this phrase-and-meaning not used in the UK, to the best of my knowledge. Oddly enough, I discovered the expression in a US-set thriller by a British author – who knows how he had come across it? It’s a usage which – as with many Americanisms – I really like: splendidly pithy / punchy. I’m a bit surprised to find that it is, seemingly, far from universal in the States. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/13 "2017-01-15T15:21:43Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > It’s a superlative, like “I’m gonna get you but good!” meaning I’m really \*really \*gonna get you! New Englander here. **levdrakon** ’s example is the only sense I’ve ever heard it (similarly, “did you hear about Billy? Those Wexler boys fucked him up but good”), which to me sounds very different than the example given in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/14 "2017-01-15T15:31:57Z")
> [@NeonMadman](#): > > I grew up in Massachusetts In that case, you are probably also familiar with Dewey, Cheatham and Howe. “And how” is a similar regionalism, I think. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/15 "2017-01-15T15:33:33Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > New Englander here. **levdrakon** ’s example is the only sense I’ve ever heard it (similarly, “did you hear about Billy? Those Wexler boys fucked him up but good”), which to me sounds very different than the example given in the OP. The usage sounds exactly the same to me, but, you’re right, I think I’ve only heard it in your context, though. This is one of those phrases I’m familiar with and may have even used, but I have no idea whether it was usual in my neighborhood in Chicago growing up or something I picked up along the way. ---
**Author:** ![NeonMadman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@NeonMadman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NeonMadman)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/16 "2017-01-16T03:04:01Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > In that case, you are probably also familiar with Dewey, Cheatham and Howe. “And how” is a similar regionalism, I think. Yes, I remember hearing that one a lot, too, though I was never aware that “and how” was limited to a specific region either. I think I remember seeing the “Dewey, Cheatham and Howe” reference in an old comedy movie, though I can’t recall which one offhand. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/17 "2017-01-16T11:22:47Z")
I’m familiar with the “…and how” expression as an intensifier (grew up in New York area, 70s-80s), but I always thought that, in the Dewey joke, it simply meant “And by what means shall we cheat him?” I see now that I was wrong – but I’ll bet a lot of people who aren’t familiar with “and how” as an intensifier get the joke in the way I always did until just now. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/18 "2017-01-16T13:16:44Z")
The phrase is fairly common in Michigan. Yep, used as an intensifier. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/19 "2017-01-16T13:35:25Z")
I think both “and how” and “but good” are not regionalisms. They were standard US slang in the 40s and 50s. Which was starting to fade from common use in the 60s. I heard it a lot growing up, both in person and on nationally distributed TV. It’s been a few years since I’ve heard it in any current context. And I’ve never heard it used by somebody born in the 1970s or later. ---
**Author:** ![Nuveena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a587f6/32.png) [@Nuveena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nuveena)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-phrase-but-good-used-as-an-adverb-is-it-a-regionalism/777128/20 "2017-01-17T23:42:09Z")
It’s used in the '80s movie Working Girl set in New York/New Jersey. After a character’s shenanigans are discovered, another character says, “If I were you… I’d go to your office and take a long last look around. Because in about five minutes, I’m going to see to it that you get the boot… but good!”