good riddance to bad rubbish
/ˌɡʊd ˈɹɪdns tə ˌbæd ˈɹʌbɪʃ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.85 in modern English
40
Scrabble Score
24
Letters
3
Syllables
14
Unique Chars
Meaning
intj
Used to indicate that one welcomes the departure of someone or something: good riddance!
Example Sentences
- "“Franklin quit today.” “Well, good riddance to bad rubbish!”"
- "And the pedlar takes the devil! ha, ha, ha!—Good riddance to bad rubbish."
- ""A good riddance of bad rubbish!" said that wrathful old lady. "Get along with you, or I'll have you carried out!""
- ""Mrs. Grimes, you are so good—but how can I sleep when poor Peter is at home by himself dead drunk?" / "Why, he is as happy as a lord mayor." / "But the house might take fire!" / "If it should, it wouldn't matter much if he went with it—good riddance to bad rubbish, say I!""
- ""I'd rather stay in an asylum all my life than go back to that man," said Aunt Lois. / "Wal, you see she did n't," said Sam; "her friends they made him make a settlement on her, poor woman, and he cleared out t' England." / "Good riddance to bad rubbish," said my grandmother."
- ""Well, he didn't do much work," admitted the deacon. / "While he ate enough for two boys. Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say.""
Etymology
Possibly an elaboration of good riddance, contrasting the word good with bad, and using the word rubbish to form an alliteration with riddance.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌɡʊd ˈɹɪdns tə ˌbæd ˈɹʌbɪʃ/
- British English: /ˌɡʊd ˈɹɪd(ə)ns tə ˌbæd ˈɹʌbɪʃ/