play gooseberry

English

Verb

play gooseberry (third-person singular simple present plays gooseberry, present participle playing gooseberry, simple past and past participle played gooseberry)

(dated, British slang) to be an unwanted third party accompanying two lovers, to serve as a chaperon
- 1915, Montgomery, Lucy Maud, “In the Park”, in Anne of the Island:
  "Well, new experiences are broadening. Come along, and you'll be able to sympathize with all poor souls who have to play gooseberry often.

Synonyms

do gooseberry

Translations

to serve as a chaperon

Finnish: olla kolmas pyörä (literally “to be a third wheel”)
French: tenir la chandelle (fr) (literally “to hold the candle”)
German: den Anstandswauwau spielen
Greek: κρατώ το φανάρι (krató to fanári, literally “to hold the lamp”)
Portuguese: segurar vela (literally “to hold a candle”)
Walloon: tini l' tchandele (wa) (literally “to hold the candle”)

See also

References

Albert Barrère and Charles G[odfrey] Leland, compilers and editors (1889–1890), “play gooseberry”, in A Dictionary of Slang, Jargon & Cant […], volume I (A–K), Edinburgh: […] The Ballantyne Press, →OCLC, page 419.
Farmer, John Stephen (1893) Slang and Its Analogues‎, volume 3, page 183

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