what’s the good of: Idiom Meaning and Origin

"What's the good of" is an idiom that questions the usefulness or purpose of something. It implies that something does not serve any practical purpose. This idiom has been in popular usage since the mid-19th century and its exact origin is unclear.

"What's the good of" is a figurative expression used to express skepticism or doubt about the value or worth of something. It is commonly used in everyday conversations, literature, and various forms of media to question the practicality of a particular action or situation.

This idiom is not meant to be taken literally and does not seek a practical answer. Instead, it serves as a rhetorical device to express skepticism or criticism.

The idiom "what's the good of" can be used in various contexts. For example, one might say "what's the good of studying if I won't get a job anyway?" to question the value of education. Similarly, one might say "what's the good of saving money if I can't enjoy it?" to question the purpose of financial prudence.

The idiom "what's in it for me" is related to "what's the good of" as both express doubt about the benefit or advantage of something. "What's in it for me" is often used in a self-centered manner to question whether something is personally advantageous or worthwhile.

The idiom "what for" is related to "what's the good of" as both express a sense of doubt or inquiry about the purpose or reason behind something. "What for" is often used to seek clarification or understanding about the motive or intention behind an action.

Another related idiom is "good value", which conveys the idea of something being worth the cost or price. It is used to describe when something is considered advantageous, valuable, or beneficial in terms of its cost relative to its quality or usefulness.

The idiom "good for nothing" is also related to "what's the good of" as both convey a negative connotation. "Good for nothing" describes something or someone as being worthless, useless, or of no value.

"what's the good of" is a versatile and commonly used idiom that questions the usefulness or purpose of something. Its figurative nature and rhetorical function should be understood when employing this expression. Additionally, related idioms such as "what's in it for me", "what for", "good value", and "good for nothing" convey similar notions of doubt, skepticism, or criticism about the value, worth, or purpose of something.