goon

/ɡuːn/ (bre, ipa) · [ɡˈun] /ɡuːn/ (ame, ipa) · [ɡˈun] /ˈgün/ (ame, mw)

goon — noun

  • goonsingular
  • goonsplural

1. a person paid by a criminal group to use violence, threats, or physical force ag

1.名詞B2
釋義

a person paid by a criminal group to use violence, threats, or physical force against other people in order to control them or stop them from taking action

例句

A gang leader sent his goons to threaten the shop owner who refused to pay.

Jisoo's uncle was beaten by two goons after he testified against the smuggling ring.

passive structure: was beaten by [agent] + goons

同義詞
  • thug

    more general violent criminal, not necessarily hired by a group

  • henchman

    specifically implies loyalty to a boss or leader

  • enforcer

    someone who uses violence to maintain order within a criminal organisation

文法句型

usually singular

can be plural

用法筆記

Usually refers to hired criminals working for an organised group; less commonly used for independent violent offenders. This sense was popularised by the 'goon' characters in the Popeye cartoons from the 1930s.

常見錯誤

❌The thief was a goon who acted alone.
✅The thief was a thug who acted alone.
💡'goon' implies being hired by an organised group, not acting entirely independently.

2. an insulting word for someone who behaves in a stupid or foolish way, often caus

2.名詞B1
釋義

an insulting word for someone who behaves in a stupid or foolish way, often causing amusement or annoyance to others

例句

That goon tried to open a wine bottle with a hammer and broke the glass.

Mathieu felt like a goon when he came for the exam on the wrong date.

feel like a goon (emotion collocation)

同義詞
  • fool

    more general and slightly less informal

  • idiot

    stronger and more offensive

  • dunce

    old-fashioned, specifically about being slow at learning

反義詞
  • genius

    someone very intelligent

文法句型

often used with 'a': a goon

用法筆記

Less harsh than 'idiot' or 'moron' in most contexts. Can be used playfully among friends without serious offence. Common in British and Australian English.

常見錯誤

❌My boss called me a goon at the meeting and I was very upset.
✅My friend called me a goon for forgetting my keys, and we both laughed.
💡'goon' as an insult is usually mild or playful, not appropriate for a serious insult.

3. cheap wine of low quality, especially the kind sold in cardboard boxes or plasti

3.名詞C1
釋義

cheap wine of low quality, especially the kind sold in cardboard boxes or plastic bags inside boxes, typically drunk at parties or social gatherings

例句

The students all put in money and bought a box of goon for the party.

After work, Sirin and her flatmates shared a bag of goon and watched old comedies.

bag of goon (quantity collocation)

同義詞
  • plonk

    also informal for cheap wine, used more broadly in British English

文法句型

uncountable: some goon, a bag of goon

用法筆記

Primarily Australian slang. The term may have originated from the cartoon character 'Goon' whose face was printed on a popular brand of boxed wine. The wine is usually packaged in a plastic bladder inside a cardboard box.