golden goose

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR C1

Post

Figurative meaning

a reliable source of money that must be protected, not exploited to death

Why this phrase?

From Aesop's fable: the goose that laid golden eggs was killed by its greedy owner, who then got nothing.

Example

“Don't kill the golden goose with aggressive pricing.”

Dictionary details

Component words

golden

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

golden parachute Neutral · CEFR C1

a generous severance package guaranteed to an executive who loses their job, typically after a takeover

golden handcuffs Informal · CEFR C1

financial incentives designed to keep a valuable employee from leaving

kill the goose that lays the golden eggs Neutral · CEFR C1

to destroy a reliable source of future profit through greed or short-term thinking

bang for your buck Informal · CEFR B1

the value or impact you get for the money or effort spent

do the job Informal · CEFR B1

to be good enough to achieve the desired result

sell like hot cakes Neutral · CEFR B1

to be bought rapidly and in great numbers because many people want it

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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