Once and for good

Posted by Victoria S Dennis May 10, 2007In reply to Once and for good posted by ESC on May 10, 2007

What is the origin of "once and for good"? Is it only used in Britain, or also in America?

The way I've heard it in the United States: once and for all. "I'm telling you once and for all (for the last time) stop doing that."

I'm from England and I've only ever heard "once and for all". I think this is a hybrid with "for good", which has a roughly similar meaning, as in "I'm giving up smoking, and this time I'm giving it up for good." (VSD)