1881. Pascoe, Life in our Public Schools. A god at Eton is probably
in a more exalted position, and receives more reverence than will
ever afterwards fall to his lot.
A sight for the gods, phr. (common).—A matter of wonderment.
1892. Hume Nisbet, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 31. Stringy Bark
prepared to greet his native land, was a sight for the gods to
behold with satisfaction, and men to view from afar with awed
respect.
God Pays! phr. (old).—An expression at one time much in the mouth of
disbanded soldiers and sailors (who assumed a right to live on the
public charity). The modern form is, ‘If I don’t pay you, God Almighty
will.’
1605. London Prodigal, ii., 3. But there be some that bear a
soldier’s form, That swear by him they never think upon; Go
swaggering up and down, from house to house, Crying, God pays.
1630. Taylor, in wks. These feather’d fidlers sing, and leape, and
play, The begger takes delight, and God doth pay.
1640. Ben Jonson, Epigr. XII. To every cause he meets, this voice
he brays, His only answer is to all, God pays.
God (or Bramah) Knows: I don’t, phr. (common).—An emphatic rejoinder.
1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wordes. Come Iddio vel dica., a phrase,
as wee would say: God himselfe tell you, I cannot.
Goddess Diana, subs. phr. (rhyming). A sixpence. For synonyms, see
Tanner.
1864. The Press, 12 Nov. Goddess diana is the rhyming equivalent
for a tanner which signifies sixpence.
God-dot! intj. (old).—An oath. By God! [A contraction of ‘God wot!’]
For synonyms, see Oaths.
Godfather, subs. (old).—A juryman.
1598. Shakspeare, Merchant of Venice, iv. 1. In christ’ning thou
shalt have two godfathers, Had I been judge, thou should’st have
had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.
1616. Ben Jonson, Devil’s An Ass, v., 5. Not I, If you be such a
one, sir, I will leave you To your god-fathers in law. Let twelve
men work.
1638. Randolph, Muses’ Looking Glass, ix. 251. I had rather zee him
remitted to the jail, and have his twelve godvathers, good men and
true, condemn him to the gallows.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
To stand Godfather, verb. phr. (common).—To pay the reckoning.
[Godfathers being the objects of much solicitude and expectation.]
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. Will you stand godfather, and we
will take care of the brat? = repay you another time.
Go-down, subs. (old).—1. A draught of liquor; a go (q.v.).