Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

play-gooseberry

idiom

ˈpleɪ ɡuːz·bə·ri

Definition

To act as a third wheel or an unwanted intruder in a romantic situation.

Examples

When I went to the movies with my friends, I felt like I was just playing gooseberry while they flirted.
She didn’t want to play gooseberry on their date, so she decided to stay home.
He joked that he was playing gooseberry during their dinner date.

Meaning

The phrase ‘play-gooseberry’ is often used to describe someone who is accompanying a couple but is not involved romantically, making them feel like an extra person in a private or intimate setting.