a small green fruit that grows on a bush with thorns. Gooseberries have a bitter sharp taste and are usually cooked to make jam, pies, etc. Children are sometimes told that babies come from ‘under the gooseberry bush’. 醋栗 a gooseberry bush 醋栗灌木
Word Originmid 16th cent.: the first element perhaps from goose, or perhaps based on Old French groseille, altered because of an unexplained association with the bird.
Idioms
play gooseberry
- (British English)
to be a third person with two people who have a romantic relationship and want to be alone together 当电灯泡(夹在情侣之间,不知趣)