2 N‑COUNT A gobbet of information is a small piece of it.
gob|ble /gɒ b ə l/ (gobbles , gobbling , gobbled ) VERB If you gobble food, you eat it quickly and greedily. □ [V n] Pete gobbled all the stew. ● PHRASAL VERB Gobble down and gobble up mean the same as gobble . □ [V n P ] There were dangerous beasts in the river that might gobble you up. [Also V P n]
▸ gobble down → see gobble
▸ gobble up
1 PHRASAL VERB If an organization gobbles up a smaller organization, it takes control of it or destroys it. □ [V P n] …a company intent on gobbling up weaker rivals. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB To gobble up something such as money means to use or waste a lot of it. □ [V P n] The firm's expenses gobbled up 44% of revenues. [Also V n P ]
3 → see also gobble
gob|ble|dy|gook /gɒ b ə ldiguːk/ also gobbledegook N‑UNCOUNT If you describe a speech or piece of writing as gobbledygook , you are criticizing it for seeming like nonsense and being very technical or complicated. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ When he asked questions, the answers came back in Wall Street gobbledygook.
go -between (go-betweens ) N‑COUNT A go-between is a person who takes messages between people who are unable or unwilling to meet each other. □ He will act as a go-between to try and work out an agenda.
gob|let /gɒ bl I t/ (goblets ) N‑COUNT A goblet is a type of cup without handles and usually with a long stem.
gob|lin /gɒ bl I n/ (goblins ) N‑COUNT In fairy stories, a goblin is a small, ugly creature which usually enjoys causing trouble.
gob|smacked /gɒ bsmækt/ ADJ If you say that you were gobsmacked by something, you are emphasizing how surprised you were by it. [BRIT , INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ People from other countries are gobsmacked by the food that British children eat.
god ◆◆◇ /gɒ d/ (gods )
1 N‑PROPER The name God is given to the spirit or being who is worshipped as the creator and ruler of the world, especially by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. □ He believes in God. □ God bless you.
2 CONVENTION People sometimes use God in exclamations to emphasize something that they are saying, or to express surprise, fear, or excitement. This use could cause offence. [EMPHASIS ] □ God, how I hated him! □ Oh my God he's shot somebody.
3 N‑COUNT In many religions, a god is one of the spirits or beings that are believed to have power over a particular part of the world or nature. □ [+ of ] …Pan, the God of nature. □ …Zeus, king of the gods.
4 N‑COUNT Someone who is admired very much by a person or group of people, and who influences them a lot, can be referred to as a god . □ To his followers he was a god.
5 → see also act of God
6 PHRASE If you say God forbid , you are expressing your hope that something will not happen. [FEELINGS ] □ If, God forbid, something goes wrong, I don't know what I would do.
7 PHRASE You can say God knows , God only knows , or God alone knows to emphasize that you do not know something. [EMPHASIS ] □ Gunga spoke God knows how many languages. □ God alone knows what she thinks.
8 PHRASE If someone says God knows in reply to a question, they mean that they do not know the answer. [EMPHASIS ] □ 'Where is he now?' 'God knows.'
9 PHRASE The term a man of God is sometimes used to refer to Christian priests or ministers.
10 PHRASE If someone uses such expressions as what in God's name , why in God's name , or how in God's name , they are emphasizing how angry, annoyed, or surprised they are. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ What in God's name do you expect me to do? □ Why in God's name did you have to tell her?
11 PHRASE If someone plays God , they act as if they have unlimited power and can do anything they want. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ You have no right to play God in my life!
12 PHRASE You can use God in expressions such as I hope to God , or I wish to God , or I swear to God , in order to emphasize what you are saying. [EMPHASIS ] □ I hope to God they are paying you well. □ I wish to God I hadn't met you.
13 PHRASE If you say God willing , you are saying that something will happen if all goes well. □ God willing, there will be a breakthrough.
14 honest to God → see honest
15 in the lap of the gods → see lap
16 for God's sake → see sake
17 thank God → see thank
go d-a wful also godawful ADJ [usu ADJ n] If someone says that something is god-awful , they think it is very unpleasant. This word could cause offence. [INFORMAL , EMPHASIS ]
god|child /gɒ dtʃa I ld/ (godchildren ) N‑COUNT [usu with poss] In the Christian religion, your godchild is a person that you promise to help bring up in the Christian faith.
god|dammit /gɒddæ m I t/ also goddamnit , goddamn it EXCLAM Some people say goddammit when they are angry or irritated. This use could cause offence. [INFORMAL , FEELINGS ]
god|damn /gɒ dæm/ also goddam , goddamned ADJ [ADJ n] Some people use goddamn when they are angry, surprised, or excited. This use could cause offence. [INFORMAL , FEELINGS ] ● ADV [ADV adj] Goddamn is also an adverb.