Question: Where does the phrase “goody two-shoes” come from?
Answer: The phrase comes from the 1765 children’s book The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes, published by John Newbery. It refers to the fictional character Margery Meanwell, a poor orphan who excitedly celebrated getting a second shoe—earning her nickname “Goody Two-Shoes.” She later becomes a schoolteacher, marries a wealthy man, and uses her fortune to help the poor. The tale, reflecting the era’s taste for highly virtuous heroes, became a major bestseller and was widely reprinted.
