deliver the goods

verb

To do what was promised or expected.

“The government promised a lot, but failed to deliver the goods.”

Similar
succeedwincome throughbring home the bacon
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Meanings

verbdeliver the goods (third-person singular simple present delivers the goods, present participle delivering the goods, simple past and past participle delivered the goods)

present singular third person delivers the goods · participle present delivering the goods · participle past delivered the goods · past delivered the goods

  1. idiomaticinformalTo do what was promised or expected.

    The government promised a lot, but failed to deliver the goods.

    3 more examples

    […] many drivers who fired those engines in their hey-day have all confirmed to me that they were free-steaming machines, which when pressed could "deliver the goods".

    1959 February, A. G. Dunbar, “The "Dunalastair I" 4-4-0s of the Caledonian”, in Trains Illustrated, page 85

    Euro 2022 stars Beth Mead, Alessia Russo and Toone all came off the bench to help inspire a comeback and it was the Manchester United midfielder, who scored the opening goal in that European success at Wembley, who delivered the goods again.

    2023 December 1, Emma Sanders, “England 3-2 Netherlands”, in BBC Sport

    Empowered staff deliver the goods and exceed your expectations. Disempowered staff develop a 'sullen obedience' where they stop driving new initiatives and just await orders.

    2024 January 10, Chris Green, “Empowered...energised... and managing for success”, in RAIL, number 1000, page 22

Synonyms & antonyms

verbattain success or reach a desired goal

Similar
succeedwincome throughbring home the bacon
Broader
actmove
Also see
bring home the baconcome throughkeep one's wordsucceedwin

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Finnish täyttää lupauksensa, toimittaa
  • täyttää lupauksensa(informal) to keep one's promises
  • toimittaa(informal) to keep one's promises
French livrer la marchandise
  • livrer la marchandise(informal) to keep one's promises
Polish dotrzymywać słowa, dotrzymać słowa
  • dotrzymywać słowa(informal) to keep one's promises
  • dotrzymać słowa(informal) to keep one's promises
Cite this entry
APA

deliver the goods. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deliver%20the%20goods

MLA

“deliver the goods.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deliver%20the%20goods. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “deliver the goods,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deliver%20the%20goods.

Source: deliver the goods on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.