Thursday, 7 July 2011

What is the meaning of `what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander’?

Some parents treat their sons and daughters differently; they do not have the same set of rules for the two. For example, they may allow their sons to go out with their friends on Friday evenings, but may not allow their daughters to do so. As far as they are concerned, it is not okay for girls to go out. Such parents do not believe that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. In other words, they don’t think that what is appropriate for one person, is appropriate for another. It’s also possible to say, `what’s good for the goose is good for the gander’. The expression has been around for several centuries, and is considered rather old fashioned.

*If you’re going to punish me for watching too much television, then you should punish Geetha, too. What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Source: ‘Know Your English’ ( The Hindu) – April 10, 2006

No comments:

Post a Comment