goodnight, phr. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

goodnight phr.

also good evening

[fig. uses of SE, though for Vienna note Goodnight, Vienna, a romantic operetta by Eric Maschwitz and George Posford (1929)]

used to indicate incipient trouble or one’s resignation in the face of a problem or disaster; usu. constr. with a proper n.; thus in phrs. below.

1732		Progress of a Rake 24: Dick’s Friends now heard, and judg’d aright, / If thus he liv’d, Estate good-night.
1887		G. Devol Forty Years a Gambler 153: If I fill this flush, good evening to you fellows.
1909		Van Loan ‘The Crab’ in Big League (2004) 9: If he ever gets within reaching distance of a fly ball – good night!
1915		S. Ford Shorty McCabe on the Job 17: Referee for a kind deeds campaign! Good night, Sister Sue!
1916		J. Lait ‘Charlie the Wolf’ in Beef, Iron and Wine (1917) 33: He knew Kelly and Kiernan would be in there in a minute, and if they found him — good-night.
1917		A. Brazil Madcap of the School 48: ‘Oh, good night! The wretched things are hatching out!’ gasped Raymonde.
1917		R. Lardner ‘Carmen’ in Gullible’s Travels 20: Genevieve hollers for the dips, who dashes in with their gats pulled and it’s good night, Mister Sheriff!
1920		Ade Hand-made Fables 199: If they walk out, it’s ‘Good-Night, Myrtle,’ for us.
1931		P.J. Wolfson Bodies are Dust (2019) [ebook] ‘If they get hep, good night!’.
1977		Fidrych & Clark No Big Deal 140: [V]oom—there’s a fast guy on third, and it was gone. It was good night.

In phrases

goodnight Irene

1983		R. Price Breaks 332: It would be Goodnight Irene for anybody trying to do comedy up there after him.
1992		R.G. Barrett White Shoes 123: If some big bloke belts you out of the blue when you’re not ready for it [...] it’s goodnight Irene.
2010		K. Barry ‘Fjord of Killary’ in New Yorker 24 Jan. 🌐 Then, at once, the lights over there cut out. ‘Good night, Irene,’ Bill Knott said.

goodnight Joe Doyle (Irish)

1958

(con. 1940s) B. Behan Borstal Boy 139: Good night Joe Doyle, this is a dead loss.

goodnight McGuinness (N.Z.)

1988

McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 52/1: Good night, McGuinness! a rather final version of the evening farewell salutation, McGuinness not known; eg ‘Ah, well, that’s one more than my usual quota. That’s it, lads. It’s good night, McGuinness. See ya in the morning, maybe.’ c. 1910.

goodnight nurse

1908		K. McGaffey Sorrows of a Show Girl Ch. ix: if the briny mingles with my marcel wave – good night, nurse!
1913		T.A. Dorgan Silk Hat Harry’s Divorce Suit 1 June [synd. cartoon strip] Oh Harry I can’t guess what it is... Good night nurse.
1915		Bulletin (Sydney) 7 Oct. 48/1: ‘The worst part av th’ job is th’ next p’int,’ said Mullaney. ‘If we’re shtopped there it’s good-night, nurse.’.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 92: goodnight, nurse! Irrevocable turn of events [...] Originally WWI greeting the soldiers used with gratitude and brought back from hospital, becoming comical or incredulous, and c1920 marking completion. ANZ.

goodnight Vienna

1981		J. Sullivan ‘Christmas Crackers’ Only Fools and Horses [TV script] If they don’t know Adam Ant’s birthday or the Chelsea result, it’s goodnight Vienna, innit?
1994		I. Welsh ‘The Granton Star Cause’ in Acid House 123: Wir finished. Finito. Kaput. Endy story. Goodnight Vienna.
2005		P. Howard Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightdress 158: Then he bought a Bible and suddenly it was, like, ‘Goodnight Vienna.’.
2015		I. Welsh Decent Ride 277: One fuckin bit ay excitement then, boom: goodnight Vienna, endy fuckin story.

In exclamations

(oh) good night!

(US) excl. of affirmation.

1904

C. Connors Bowery Life [ebook] ’It was a pipe [...] to get next to doin’ de act wid a pen an’ ink, an’ as fur de readin’ gag, oh, good night.