# goodnight Irene

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/goodnight-irene
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An involuntary departure.

## Examples

- The party ended, and it was goodnight Irene for the guests.
- When the manager saw the budget report, he knew it was goodnight Irene for the new project.
- Once the final whistle blew and the team realized they had lost the championship, it was goodnight Irene for their hopes of a trophy.

## Origin

From the blues/folk song Goodnight Irene first popularized by Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter.

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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.