Goodnight Gracie – Meaning, Origin and Usage

Have you seen the phrase 'goodnight gracie' on the internet or in a text somewhere and want to know more about what the saying could mean? The phrase 'goodnight gracie' is a saying that references 50s television, though it has also become a common catchphrase. This post unpacks its origin, meaning, and proper use.

Meaning

The phrase 'goodnight Gracie' or sometimes given as 'good night Gracie' is a less common saying in the English language.

The phrase is figurative and 'goodnight Gracie' is most often said as a catchphrase or television reference to the 1950s.

When someone says 'goodnight Gracie' it can imply their exit from a conversation or situation, or imply a way to say that they will see the other parties again later.

Sometimes the phrase can be meant as sarcastic or joking rather than serious. Context is either said directly or implied by the rest of the conversation.

The phrase is more common with people who remember the television origin of the phrase than with people who do not.

The saying can be used with or without a comma: both render a valid version of the phrase.

There is no common denial form of the phrase, as there would be no need to apply it in this form to give a valid saying.

A similar phrase to 'goodnight Gracie' in the English language is the saying 'that's all, folks' to say the same.

Example Usage

“I mean, when he walked into the party without any pants on I was just like okay, goodnight gracie, I'm out of here.”

“Goodnight everyone, and goodnight Gracie. I've had enough of this party.”

“My grandmother didn't say goodnight Gracie to her job until she was eighty-fucking-seven. That's either a lot of dedication, or they were really broke right up until the very moment they died.”

“When he pulled his pants down, I just said goodnight Gracie and left.”

Origin

According to most online language resources, the origin of the phrase 'goodnight Gracie' is given as a sign-off line by the comedian and performer George Burns.

While George Burns was born in the 1890s, the phrase 'goodnight Gracie' would only be said in the 1950s when he ended the show with a goodnight greeting to his wife and co-star.

The phrase 'goodnight gracie' would rise as a popular phrase in common speech through the late 50s and early 60s. Due to reruns, use of the phrase would continue well for several more decades – although the origin of the phrase is thought of less often.

Figurative, common use of the phrase is likely to have happened any time after the introduction of the sign-off.

A similar phrase in the English language is the sign-off used for cartoons, 'that's all, folks' and it can be used to imply almost the same things as 'goodnight Gracie'.

The website Urban Dictionary does not list the phrase 'goodnight gracie' as of 2022, though lists the words 'goodnight' in 2021 and 'Gracie' in 2022.

Phrases Similar to Goodnight Gracie

  • That's all, folks

Phrases Opposite to Goodnight Gracie

  • N/a

What is the Correct Saying?

  • Goodnight Gracie
  • Good night Gracie
  • Goodnight, Gracie

Ways People May Say Goodnight Gracie Incorrectly

There are several ways in which someone can use the phrase 'goodnight Gracie' in the wrong way, or misunderstand the meaning of the phrase.

If someone says 'goodnight Gracie' then it is sometimes taken as a serious exit catchphrase, but the meaning can also be sarcastic. The phrase is given context depending on what has been said.

Acceptable Ways to Phrase Goodnight Gracie

The correct way to use the phrase 'goodnight Gracie' is to use the saying to refer to someone's exit from something, often abrupt and sometimes with humorous or sarcastic implications.

The phrase can be spelled as 'goodnight' or 'good night' depending on the preferred style of where it is used, and informal use on social media does not always use capitalization of Gracie in use of the phrase.

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