English edit

Etymology edit

gooseberry +‎ -ish

Adjective edit

gooseberryish (comparative more gooseberryish, superlative most gooseberryish)

  1. (informal) Resembling or characteristic of a gooseberry (the fruit).
    • 2009, Anke Lüdeling, Corpus Linguistics, volume 2, page 975:
      The Loire is represented by ten wines, among which I particularly liked the smoky, austerely dry Touraine Sauvignon Blanc from Dutertre Pere et Fils, and an unusual honeyed, more classically gooseberryish Cheverny Sauvignon Blanc []
  2. (UK, informal) Of a person: feeling neither necessary nor wanted in a given situation.
    • 2015, Stevie Mach, Silhouettes:
      Dave and Jo were beginning to talk between themselves more and more, Debbie was beginning to feel a bit gooseberryish. She contented herself watching the independence debate programme showing on the pub TV set.