goody two shoes

noun

, (sometimes initial capital letters)

, plural goody two shoes.

1. a goody-goody.

Word History and Origins

Origin of goody two shoes¹

After the title character of The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes (1765), a nursery tale perhaps written by Oliver Goldsmith

Idioms and Phrases

A prudish, self-righteous individual, a goody-goody. For example, Phyllis was a real goody two-shoes, tattling on her friends to the teacher . This expression alludes to the main character of a nursery tale, The History of Goody Two-Shoes (1765), who was so pleased when receiving a second shoe that she kept saying “Two shoes.” The goody in the story is short for goodwife but means “goody-goody” in the idiom.

Example Sentences

“I wasn’t a goody two-shoes, but the fact of the matter is, I didn’t kill anybody.”

From Seattle Times

Goody Two-Shoes: Someone who profanity-bombs a 7-year-old and who gets “very upset” at being asked not to is not a keeper.

From Washington Post

The story centers on the goody two-shoes Janet and Brad, a young couple with car trouble who stumble on an old castle filled with eccentric characters: cross-dressers, scientists and a maid, included.

From Seattle Times

"Well, I know this because people were like, 'I saw you!' I was such a goody two-shoes and people kept going, 'I saw you out. I made eye contact with you.' I was like, 'No!'"

From Fox News

But I’m such a goody two-shoes, and people kept going like, ‘I saw you out! Like, I made eye contact with you!’

From Los Angeles Times