goof

goof [goof]Slang. Word Origin verb (used without object)

1. to blunder; make an error, misjudgment, etc.
2. to waste or kill time; evade work or responsibility (often followed by off or around): Exam week is not a time to goof off. We goofed around till train time.

verb (used with object)

3. to spoil or make a mess of (something); botch; bungle (often followed by up): You really goofed up the job.

noun

4. a foolish or stupid person.
5. a mistake or blunder, especially one due to carelessness.
6. a source of fun or cause for amusement: We short-sheeted his bunk just for a goof.

Verb Phrases

7. goof on, Slang. to tease, ridicule, or mock; make fun of.

Origin of goof 1915–20; apparently variant of obsolete goff dolt Middle French goffe awkward, stupid British Dictionary definitions for goof on goof noun

1. a foolish error or mistake
2. a stupid person

verb

3. to bungle (something); botch
4. (intr; often foll by about or around) to fool (around); mess (about)
5. (tr) to dope with drugs
6. (intr often foll by off) US and Canadian to waste time; idle

Word Origin for goof C20: probably from (dialect) goff simpleton, from Old French goffe clumsy, from Italian goffo, of obscure origin Word Origin and History for goof on goof v.

“waste time,” 1932; “make a mistake,” 1941, from goof (n.). Goof off “loaf” is also from 1941. Related: Goofed; goofing.

goof n.

1916, American English, “stupid person,” perhaps a variant of English dialect goff “foolish clown” (1869), from 16c. goffe, probably from Middle French goffe “awkward, stupid,” of uncertain origin. Or English goffe may be from Middle English goffen “speak in a frivolous manner,” possibly from Old English gegaf “buffoonery,” and gaffetung “scolding.” Sense of “a blunder” is c.1954, probably influenced by gaffe.

Idioms and Phrases with goof on goof on

Make fun of, mock, as in He was always goofing on his little brother. [Slang; mid-1900s]