Slang dictionary
goat rodeo
[goht roh-dee-oh]
What does goat rodeo mean?
A goat rodeo is a slang term for something going totally, unbelievably, disastrously wrong, and there’s nothing left to do but to sit back and watch the trainwreck.
In other words, a goat rodeo is a chaotic situation, fiasco, or, more vulgarly, a shitshow. And yes, there are also literal goat rodeos. 🐐
Where does goat rodeo come from?
Goat rodeo comes from a big family of goat-related slang, such as goat fuck, goat screw, and goat rope.
The more profane version, goat fuck, can be traced to the 1970s. Goat fuck was originally used by military personnel for a “fiasco,” along the lines of SNAFU. The expression may play on the expression get someone’s goat (“irritate them”) and allude to the stubbornness of the animal.
Goat screw and goat rope emerged as euphemisms for the phrase by 1990s. Goat rodeo, yet another adaptation of the term, is evidenced by the early 2000s. The work of a rodeo can be chaotic, helping the expression.
Grant McCracken / Medium
Goat rodeo picked up steam with the release of a 2011 Grammy Award-winning classical-bluegrass album titled “The Goat Rodeo Sessions.” Named after the complex musical elements it took to combine the two genres, the album was a collaboration between musicians Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile.
Goat rodeo appears elsewhere, such as the name of a Philadelphia-based improv group, a DC news and media company, and even some band names.
Examples of goat rodeo
Who uses goat rodeo?
Goat rodeo generally refers to when something is a complete shitshow and cluster-fuck, i.e., a disaster. Its tone is often humorous or hyperbolic, often used to make fun of something that is exasperating or unmanageable.
The Goat Rodeo has already begun. I swear, this is the longest week ever.
— Hemmings Motor News (@HemmingsNews) January 21, 2010
trying to get three boys ready for bed is honestly like trying to be in charge of a goat rodeo
— kaiti 🌙 (@kaitimein) January 22, 2019
No matter the time of day you attempt it, the Sherman Oaks Whole Foods is guaranteed to be a goat rodeo.
— Juliet Mothershed (@JJMothershed) October 31, 2012
Goat rodeo is sometimes used to refer something “wild and crazy” in a good way. Perhaps it’s a 21st birthday bonanza or bachelor party, but if it was a goat rodeo, you know it was pretty lit.
Folks have especially taken to characterizing events of the Trump presidency as a goat rodeo.
This White House is a freakin goat rodeo.
— Julie Lips (@julielipsss) January 22, 2019
What a goat rodeo shitshow our nation is right now. What a waste of abundance. Over the stupidest wilful, selfish ignorance. pic.twitter.com/02F4gu9t3D
— Turing Pest (@Krikalitika) January 21, 2019
Trump’s Whitehouse is in the Twilight zone controlled by Rush Limbaugh, and Anne Coulter as well as the goat Rodeo with no adults in the room.
— jake4u48 (@girolamo5151) January 18, 2019
But goat rodeo has found a home in many other political contexts, to be sure.
"It's like watching a goat rodeo, but with less supervision," said @TomHagy at HB Litigation Conferences, muttering to himself about Florida's implementation of #MedicalMarijuana regs. HB's #CLE webinar Jan25 features #cannalawers at @Akerman_Law https://t.co/0wG9PUwnvf pic.twitter.com/jI1yRmaXMB
— HB Litigation Confs (@HBLitigation) January 22, 2019
Brexit: An absolute goat rodeo of the highest order cause by a bunch of cock wombles and arse badgers. #Brexit
— John Brownfield (@JohnBrownfield1) December 12, 2018
Oh Great, Mississippi is reporting a record number of absentee ballots, get ready for another goat rodeo.
— Bill Powers (@BillPowers9) November 27, 2018
People do seem to savor the phrase for its bizarre color.
I have used the term "goat rodeo" at least six times in the last 18 hours.
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) September 20, 2012
I just learned the phrase "goat rodeo" and I'm trying not to laugh bc partner is sleeping. GOAT RODEO.
— zer0jack (@zer0jack) August 2, 2017
It's been said many times before, but it's worth repeating: "Goat rodeo"
— Jonathan Daniel (@JDinChitown) January 18, 2019
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of goat rodeo like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of goat rodeo that will help our users expand their word mastery.