much good may it do someone

phrase

Used to express the hope that something will work out well for someone, often with the implication that, while hoping for the best, the speaker does not expect much.

Similar
good for someone
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Meanings

phrase
  1. Used to express the hope that something will work out well for someone, often with the implication that, while hoping for the best, the speaker does not expect much.

    Your husband may keep his twenty thousand pounds, and much good may it do him!

    1882, Albion Winegar Tourgée, Our Continent, page 722
    4 more examples

    “Mr. Chufiey is a lyin' down,” said Mrs. Gamp, returning, " and much good may it do him, Mr. Chuzzlewit, which harm it can't and good it may, be joyful!"

    1843, Charles Dickens, The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit

    Take your own way, and much good may it do you. But remember, if you are not back before the next train, I shall start with Soames, and my dutiful grand-children may find their way back to me as they can.

    1884, Sarah Tytler, “Beauty and the Beast: A Modern Romance”, in Good Words, volume 25, page 832

    The pin-headed woman who regards her thin-witted husband as the greatest man in the world, is happy, and much good may it do her.

    2015, Edgar Watson Howe, The Story of a Country Town

    'And much good may it do me,' returned Emma with a sigh, 'since she, or rather her new husband, has cast me off.'

    2022, Joan Aiken, Jane Austen, Emma Watson: Jane Austen's Unfinished Novel Completed by Joan Aiken, page 832

    Synonyms: good for someone

Synonyms & antonyms

phraseUsed to express the hope that something will work out well for someone, often with the implication that, while hoping for the best, the speaker does not expect much.

Similar
good for someone

Origin

From do good.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish onnea
  • onneaTranslations
French grand bien te fasse, grand bien lui fasse
  • grand bien te fasseTranslations
  • grand bien lui fasseTranslations
  • grand bien vous fasseTranslations
  • grand bien leur fasseTranslations
Italian buon pro gli faccia
  • buon pro gli facciaTranslations
Polish oby dobro trafiło
  • oby dobro trafiłoTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

much good may it do someone. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/much%20good%20may%20it%20do%20someone

MLA

“much good may it do someone.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/much%20good%20may%20it%20do%20someone. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “much good may it do someone,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/much%20good%20may%20it%20do%20someone.

Source: much good may it do someone on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.