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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

get the goods on en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic, transitive) To acquire knowledge or develop evidence that reveals the truth about someone's character or behavior, especially criminal behavior.
    • [T]he state's flawed deregulation scheme practically invited unscrupulous behavior. Still, it's encouraging that Washington is finally getting the goods on the manipulators. 2002 Sept. 26, "California Culprits" (editorial), New York Times (retrieved 22 Nov 2011)
    • And the film shows how mother-care can be more convincing than a legal brief in getting the goods on the corporate villains. 2000 April 6, Alexander Walker, "Erin Brockovich" (film review), London Evening Standard (UK) (retrieved 22 Nov 2011)
    • "Bob, they've got the goods on you. There's a warrant out." 1914, Peter B. Kyne, chapter 19, in The Long Chance:
    • "You've got the goods on me. I can't deny I'm the man the police are lookin' for." 1921, William MacLeod Raine, chapter 10, in Tangled Trails:
    • "With marked money and marked bottles, we ought to be able to get the goods on that gang." 1922, B. M. Bower, chapter 14, in The Trail of the White Mule:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
have the goods on alternative lexicographic
gotten the goods on Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part US lexicographic
gets the goods on Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
getting the goods on Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
got the goods on Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part UK lexicographic
got the goods on Tense=Past lexicographic

Relateds

incriminate