Heard in Missouri: "but good!"

[Laurence Horn]

At 10:10 AM -0800 12/19/07, Arnold M. Zwicky wrote:
>let me try this again; it slipped out of my grasp the first time...
>
>On Dec 19, 2007, at 9:18 AM, David Donnell wrote:
>
>>Question about an expression I just heard: "but good!"
>>
>>... The expression never registered with me before, although it
>>sounded
>>familiar rolling off her tongue; it apparently means something like
>>"and how!"
>
>note that it really won't do to define one opaque idioms by another.
>
>>
>>Is anyone familiar with this critter?
>
>it's in the AHD Dictionary of Idioms (1997):
>
>  Emphatically, thoroughly, as in Ruth decided to clean up the whole
>yard but good. The word but in this colloquialism functions as an
>intensive. Also see _and how_. x
>
>so far as i know, it's general american.  colloquial, but widespread.
>
I'm used to hearing it especially in contexts of warning or threats,
or the fulfillment of an action with negative consequences for the
patient:

"I'm gonna fix your wagon--but good!"
(only idiomatic reading, no actual wagon-repair being offered here)

"He got me (back), but good!"
(could refer to physical violence, or being made the butt of a
practical joke, a revenge set-up, etc.)

The clean-the-yard scenario would strike me as odd;

"Ruth decided to mess up the whole yard, but good!"

would be more natural.

LH

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