What it means
You say good riddance when someone or something annoying is finally gone and you're glad to see the back of it. It can sound neat and polite on the surface, but the feeling underneath is relief with a bit of bite. People use it for irritating people, rubbish situations, dead-end jobs, or any hassle that's overstayed its welcome.
Usage examples
"The landlord finally fixed the boiler and took that dodgy old heater away, good riddance, it rattled all night and stank of burning dust."
"He finally moved his broken van off our street, good riddance, it was an eyesore for two years."
"They cancelled that dreadful meeting that ate every Monday morning, good riddance to it."
"They finally shut that scammy shop down on the high street, good riddance, nothing in there worked anyway."
"My ex took the last box of his stuff out the flat this morning. Good riddance, and don't let the door flirt with your backside on the way out."
Where it comes from
The phrase is old and well attested in English. Riddance comes from rid, meaning to free yourself of something. Good riddance shows up in Shakespeare, which helped keep it alive, and it stuck because that sharp little mix of relief and dismissal still lands just right.
Editors of this term
Thief of Lost Haste Official watcher of this expression
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