play gooseberry

English

Verb

play gooseberry (third-person singular simple present plays gooseberry, present participle playing gooseberry, simple past and past participle played gooseberry)

1. (dated, UK slang) To be an unwanted third party accompanying two lovers, to serve as a chaperon.
   • 1915, Lucy Maud Montgomery, “In the Park”, in Anne of the Island:

     "Well, new experiences are broadening. Come along, and you'll be able to sympathize with all poor souls who have to play gooseberry often.

Synonyms

• do gooseberry

Translations

to serve as a chaperon

• Finnish: olla kolmas pyörä (literally “to be a third wheel”)
• French: tenir la chandelle (fr) (literally “to hold the candle”)
• German: den Anstandswauwau spielen
• Greek: κρατώ το φανάρι (krató to fanári, literally “to hold the lamp”)
• Polish: być piątym kołem u wozu impf
• Portuguese: segurar vela (pt) (literally “to hold a candle”)
• Walloon: tini l' tchandele (wa) (literally “to hold the candle”)

See also

• third wheel
• two's company, three's a crowd

References

• Albert Barrère and Charles G[odfrey] Leland, compilers and editors (1889–1890) “play gooseberry”, in A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant […], volume I (A–K), Edinburgh: […] The Ballantyne Press, →OCLC, page 419.
• John S[tephen] Farmer; W[illiam] E[rnest] Henley, compilers (1893) “play gooseberry”, in Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present. […], volume III, [London: […] Harrison and Sons] […], →OCLC, page 183.