Say goodnight Gracie
Definitions
to dismiss or say goodbye to someone
to humorously bid farewell to someone, often in a lighthearted or playful mannerto indicate the end of something
to signal that a situation or activity is finished or over, often used in a humorous or light-hearted way
Examples of Say goodnight Gracie
"The director called out 'Say goodnight, Gracie' as the camera crew packed up for the night."
In this context, "Say goodnight, Gracie" is being used as an idiomatic expression to mean "go to sleep" or "end the show". In the 1950s, the host of the television show "The Arthur Godfrey Show" would say "Goodnight, Gracie" to his wife, Blondie (aka Gracie Allen), as a way of signaling the end of the show. The phrase has since become a colloquial expression that can be used to mean "go to sleep" or "end the event". In this example, the director is using the expression to signal the end of the shoot for the day.
After a long day at work, my husband turned to me and said, "Say goodnight, Gracie."
Although my name is not Gracie, my husband has taken to using this phrase as a playful way of saying goodnight. The phrase "Say goodnight, Gracie" was popularized by the late comedian George Burns, who would say it to his wife, Gracie Allen, at the end of their television show in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, it's often used as a catchphrase to indicate the end of a day's activities, whether said to a partner, child, or pet.
The CEO closed the board meeting by saying, "Say goodnight, Gracie" to the rest of the executives.
This example shows how the idiom "Say goodnight, Gracie" can be used in a professional setting. In this case, the CEO is using the phrase as a polite and humorous way of wrapping up the meeting and thanking everyone for their time.
Our guide handed us a flashlight and said, "Say goodnight, Gracie" as we ventured into a dark cave.
Here, "Say goodnight, Gracie" is being used to prepare someone for a different type of experience. In this case, the guide is reminding us to take precautions and be careful as we explore the cave in the dark.
My grandpa told me to "Say goodnight, Gracie" and blow out the candles on my birthday cake.
This example shows the versatility of the idiom "Say goodnight, Gracie." It can be adapted to fit different situations, such as signaling the end of a birthday celebration and reminding the birthday child to blow out the candles.
Conclusion
The idiom "say goodnight Gracie" can be used to humorously bid farewell to someone or to indicate the end of a situation or activity in a lighthearted manner.Origin of "Say goodnight Gracie"
The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the American comedy duo George Burns and Gracie Allen. George Burns would often use the line "Say goodnight, Gracie" to signal the end of their comedy routines. The phrase became popular and eventually entered the common vernacular as a way to humorously indicate the end of something. The idiom is now used in a variety of contexts to signal the conclusion of an event or interaction in a light-hearted or playful manner. Its origin in the world of comedy gives it a humorous and lighthearted connotation when used in everyday language.