why does the phrase ''for good'' mean forever??

Question

the term for good, as in ive quit smoking'' for good'', or ive stopped watching that tv show ''for good'',,whatdoes good got to do with forever?

Answer 1

The key to this is:
a) "good" here is used with another sense of the word -- something like "valid" or "full(y), complete(ly)"
b) the original expression appears to be "for good and all"

At any rate, note that "for good (and all") has NOTHING to do with "for the better" (In fact, many BAD things can happen "for good and all".)

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A good starting place for this sort of thing is always the Oxford English Dictionary.
It's entry for "good" includes a listing of the phrase "for good (and all)" which it defines as: "As a valid conclusion; hence, as a final act, finally."
Its examples of this use, which go back to the 16th century, include:
15.. (Parl. Byrdes) Than desyred all the Byrdes great and smal to mewe the hauke for good and all.
1687 (Congreve) Ay, you may take him for good-and-all if you will.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/10/messages/461.html



It is easier to understand how "for good and all" might have this meaning if you note the following:

First, the sense of "good" in this expression is related to other uses of the word. See for example, the following from freedictionary.com

"11.a. Reliable; sure: a good investment.
b. Valid or true: a good reason.
c. Genuine; real: a good dollar bill.
12.a. In effect; operative, valid: a warranty good for two years; a driver's license that is still good.
14.a. Ample; substantial: a good income.
b. Bountiful: a good table.
15. Full: It is a good mile from here.

under idioms:
"good and" - "Very; thoroughly": I'll do it when I'm good and ready

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dict.asp?Word=good

How directly "for good and all" is related to "good and ready" I do not know, but BOTH use "good and" to intensify and speak of 'completion.'

Compare also the following in Merriam Webster's:

d (1) : of a noticeably large size or quantity : CONSIDERABLE (2) : FULL (3) -- used as an intensive

idioms:
good and : VERY, ENTIRELY

http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?good


"for good and ALL"

'and all' - probably. "all" here means "all TIME" (hence the expression is an expansion & intensification of "for all time" just as "good and mad/" is an intensification of "mad"

Answer 2

The English languages always has weird things. Just like "throwing in the pillow" doesn't neccessarily mean throwing a pillow. It means quitting. It's kind of the same. They're both idioms. They both don't mean literally what it says.

Answer 3

for good comes from "'for the good", ie things are better for stoping whatever.

PS artsygirl: no one says throwing in the pillow! It's throwing in the towel and it comes from boxing when the training would throw in his towel to stop the fight cuz his boxer was getting beat up! Pillow? NOPE!

Answer 4

"for the better" - You will be better off for giving something up forever.