Not forgetting

Posted by Lewis on September 12, 2003

In Reply to: Re: "Goo-goo Eyes" vs "Google Eyes" posted by ESC on September 12, 2003

: : : I find references to both of these phrases! When is one used versus the other? Thank you.

: : I am not sure. There's the expression "goo-goo eyes" and then there's a song:

: : Barney Google
: : by Spike Jones

: : Barney Google, with his goog- goog- googley eyes.
: : Barney Google had a wife three times his size.
: : She sued Barney for divorce
: : Now he's living with his horse.
: : Barney Google, with his goog- goog- googley eyes.

: goo-goo eyes - to cast amorous glances at. 1901.
: googy eyes - same meaning as goo-goo eyes. 1919
: google-eyed - 1902-03 Ade "People You Know" 106. The men were all google-eyed.

: From "Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume 1, A-G" by J.E. Lighter, Random House, New York, 1994.

: That reference didn't have a definition for "google-eyed." But it look to me like "goo-good eyes" are about boy/girl looks and "google-eyed" is just being wide-eyed and excited about something.
:

Do not forget "goggle-eyed"
- same usage as google-eyed - comes from comparison with goggles - I would not be surprised if 'goggle' pre-dates 'google'. I have also heard of 'googly-eyed'.
There is a way of bowling at cricket called a "google" but I have no idea of the relevance of that to this discussion.