How to Pronounce "good enough for government work"
expression
GOOD (or GID) i-NUHF for (or FER) GUHV-er-muhnt (or GUHV-ern-muhnt) WERK
good in-UHF for GUHV-uhn-muhnt WERK
Definition
Said about work that is only just acceptable or barely meets minimal standards, often used humorously or sarcastically to suggest something is not done very well.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈɡʊd/, /ɡɪd/ /iˈnəf/, /ɪˈnəf/ /ˈfɔɹ/, /fɝ/, /fɹɝ/ /ˈɡəvɝmənt/, /ˈɡəvɝnmənt/ /ˈwɝk
British English
ɡˈʊd/ /ɪnˈʌf/ /fˈɔː/ /ɡˈʌvənmənt/ /wˈɜːk
Simplified Pronunciation
US
GOOD (or GID) i-NUHF for (or FER) GUHV-er-muhnt (or GUHV-ern-muhnt) WERK
UK
good in-UHF for GUHV-uhn-muhnt WERK
Listen in Context
It's not perfect, but it's good enough for government work.
Just make it good enough for government work and hand it in.
My painting is not great, but it's good enough for government work.
We've done what we can—it's good enough for government work, right?