# play Old Gooseberry

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/play-old-gooseberry
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To suddenly put a stop to a disturbance by force or threats.

## Examples

- The teacher played Old Gooseberry when the students started shouting.
- The manager played Old Gooseberry during the meeting, silencing the loud argument between the two employees.
- When the rowdy crowd threatened to destroy the shop, the owner played Old Gooseberry and forced them to leave immediately.

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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.