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The phrase “as good as gold” refers to something genuine or reliable, often used to describe well-behaved children. Gold has been highly valued since prehistoric times and has been used in various applications throughout history, including currency. The word “gold” is one of the oldest in the English language and is often used to equate value or admirable qualities. Other expressions include “heart of gold,” “golden rule,” and “golden age.”
“As good as gold” or “as good as gold” are common English expressions that indicate that something is genuine or reliable. Referring to people, especially children, they usually mean well-behaved. “As good as gold” is one of several figures of speech involving gold as a desirable standard of some sort. The expression is a simile, an analogy used to describe something by comparing it to something else. The word “gold” itself is one of the oldest words in the English language.
Gold is a rare mineral with many decorative and practical uses. Human societies around the world have placed great value on the metal since prehistoric times. New World explorers sought legendary cities of gold, often causing tragedy for their expeditions or, more frequently, for the indigenous cultures they encountered. Gold is highly malleable and has been used in many applications throughout history including jewelry, art and even food. In modern times, it is used in electronics manufacturing and dentistry as well as its more traditional uses.
According to Robert Hendrickson’s Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins, “gold” is one of the four oldest words in the English language. In other words, it has retained its original form and meaning longer than almost any other word in the language. The word “gol” was used in the Indo-European language which formed the root of most Western languages, demonstrating how long gold was a standard of value. For the curious, the other three oldest words are “apple”, “bad” and “tin”.
Gold has been traded as a form of currency for thousands of years. Nations such as England and the United States used coins containing gold until the early 20th century. The metal was also used to value a nation’s currency, a practice known as the gold standard. Many forms of money, including the US dollar, were originally valued by how much gold they theoretically equaled. This currency was then “as good as gold”.
“As good as gold” is one of many English expressions that use the word “gold” to equate value or admirable qualities. A “heart of gold,” for example, means that someone has a pure spirit despite outward appearances. The “golden rule” suggests that everyone should behave with empathy, at the very least, towards other people and similar creatures. Gold medals, gold rings and golden ages are supposed to represent the purest and highest human achievements. If something or someone approaches perfection, it is often said to be “golden”.
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