PhrasesHub

Play gooseberry

    Definitions

      • to be a third wheel
        to be in a situation where one feels like an unwanted or unnecessary addition to a pair of people who are already together

      • to feel left out
        to feel excluded or unwanted in a social situation

    Examples of Play gooseberry

    • The couple went out on a date, and I found myself playing gooseberry as I didn't want to interrupt their alone time.

      The phrase "play gooseberry" means to be an unwanted third person in a situation where two people are together, usually in a romantic setting. In this example, the speaker didn't want to interrupt a couple's date, so they waited for the couple to finish their date before joining them again.

    • My parents invited my friend and his girlfriend over for dinner, and I didn't know what to do as I didn't want to play gooseberry.

      In this instance, the speaker wasn't sure how to behave when their friend and his girlfriend came over for dinner since they didn't want to feel like a third wheel while the couple spent time together.

    • I tried to make myself scarce during their first date, but I couldn't help playing gooseberry as I didn't want to miss out on the action.

      This example shows the speaker's initial attempt to avoid feeling like a third person during a couple's date, but ultimately, they couldn't resist being a part of the scenario. The phrase "couldn't help" is used to emphasize that the speaker didn't intend to be a gooseberry, but their curiosity got the best of them.

    • I overheard my girlfriend talking to her ex-boyfriend, and I didn't want to play gooseberry by interrupting them.

      In this scenario, the speaker heard their partner talking to an ex-lover and didn't want to interrupt them. The phrase "play gooseberry" is used to describe the uneasy feeling of being a third person in an uncomfortable situation.

    • Rachel couldn't bring herself to interrupt the flirtatious conversation between her boyfriend and his ex-girlfriend. She decided to play gooseberry, waiting quietly in the background until they were finished.

      In this example, "play gooseberry" means to be an unwanted third person in a situation that involves two other people, usually a romantic situation. Rachel didn't want to cause any tension by interrupting her boyfriend and his ex-girlfriend, so she waited patiently, like a gooseberry that is left behind while other berries are picked.

    • When John's boss invited him out for drinks after work, he declined, knowing his girlfriend would be jealous. He suggested his colleague come along instead, saying, "I'll play gooseberry and keep you company."

      In this example, "play gooseberry" can also be used to describe a situation where someone is unwanted by two other people, but in this case, John is intentionally putting himself in that position to make his girlfriend comfortable. He'll be the "extra person" in the situation, like a gooseberry that's left behind in the bush.

    • Tracy's friend unexpectedly showed up at her house with a new partner, and Tracy felt embarrassed about her own messy living room. She jokingly said to her friend, "Well, come on in, I guess I'm playing gooseberry tonight!"

      In this example, "play gooseberry" is used to describe a situation where someone is superfluous or not necessary, much like a gooseberry in a bush. Tracy's friend showed up unexpectedly, and now Tracy feels uncomfortable and unwanted in her own home, like a gooseberry that's left behind, forgotten and useless.

    • When Emily's boyfriend invited her to a party with his friends, she hesitated, not knowing anyone else that would be there. She asked her boyfriend if he could introduce her to the other guests, but he didn't want to cause any trouble. He suggested that Emily could "play gooseberry" and enjoy herself by watching other people have fun.

      In this example, "play gooseberry" describes a situation where someone doesn't want to participate in a social event because they don't know anybody else there, but they don't want to impose or cause any trouble. Emily doesn't want to seem rude by interrupting her boyfriend's friends' conversation, so she'll just sit back and watch, like a gooseberry that's left behind and ignored.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "play gooseberry" has two main meanings. It can refer to being a third wheel in a social situation, feeling unwanted or unnecessary when two people are already together. It can also mean feeling left out or excluded from a group.

    Origin of "Play gooseberry"

    The origin of the idiom "play gooseberry" is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in Britain in the late 19th or early 20th century. The term "gooseberry" has historically been used to refer to someone who is unwanted or unwelcome, and it is thought that the idiom may have developed from this usage. It is also possible that the term "gooseberry" was chosen because the fruit is often used as a metaphor for being a third wheel in social situations, as it is typically paired with another fruit in recipes. Regardless of its exact origins, the idiom "play gooseberry" has been used for many years to describe the feeling of being unwanted or left out in social situations. For example, "I felt like I was playing gooseberry when I went out with my friends and their partners."