# the old woman is plucking her goose

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/the-old-woman-is-plucking-her-goose
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

It is snowing.

## Examples

- Look outside, the old woman is plucking her goose.
- The children cheered when they saw the first flakes, saying the old woman is plucking her goose.
- As the sky turned a heavy grey and the first soft flakes descended, the villagers remarked that the old woman is plucking her goose.

## Origin

A metaphorical comparison likening falling snowflakes to the white feathers of a bird, specifically those shed during the plucking of a goose.

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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.