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As good as gold

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An idiom meaning extremely well-behaved, reliable, or of the highest quality; in poetry, it conveys moral perfection, trustworthiness, or the intrinsic value of something prized.

Detailed Definition
As good as gold praises exemplary conduct or worth, frequently in character portraits within poetry that value integrity and innocence.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Though the colt had never known a bridle, by noon he stood as good as gold beside the gate” uses the idiom for reliable behavior; In a children’s rhyme, “Be as good as gold till supper’s call” means obedient or well behaved; “Her promise proved as good as gold when the winter rent came due” extends the phrase toward trustworthiness; The idiom usually describes a person’s conduct, unlike literal gold imagery in poems about wealth; A poet may exploit the literal sense by writing, “As good as gold, the marigolds kept faith with June”
Additional Notes
"As good as gold" notes trace reliability to precious metal value, ideal for character praise in ballads or moral tales. Tip for students: Employ in contrasts with betrayal. Related: "for keeps." Professors facilitate lessons on virtue ethics in poetry, examining innocence, worth, and how such phrases evoke nostalgia or critique materialism across periods.
Also Known As
well-behaved perfect good as gold angelic faultless excellent
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