# golden goose

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/golden-goose
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Something that generates much profit or gives great advantages.

## Examples

- That small shop is the golden goose for the family business.
- The company decided not to sell its most popular software because it was their golden goose.
- By firing the talented lead developer, the management foolishly killed the golden goose that had sustained their market dominance for years.

## Origin

See kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.