Say goodbye

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Say goodbye" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the act of bidding farewell to someone. Example: "As the party came to an end, it was time to say goodbye to all our friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Say goodbye to Dennis".

The New Yorker

Say goodbye to traditional projectors.

The New York Times

Say goodbye to Withings.

TechCrunch

Say goodbye Leslie.

BBC

Say goodbye, Leslie.

BBC

Say goodbye, Tom!

BBC

Say goodbye to klutziness.

HuffPost

"Say goodbye to borders.

Huffington Post

Say goodbye 2014.

Huffington Post

Say goodbye Husky.

Huffington Post

Say goodbye to flannel.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "say goodbye" when you want to express a simple and direct farewell. It's suitable for most situations, from casual to moderately formal.

Common error

While "say goodbye" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or solemn situations. Consider more elevated phrases like "bid farewell" or "take leave" for such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "say goodbye" functions primarily as a verb phrase instructing or describing the act of bidding farewell. It's a common expression, as confirmed by Ludwig, used in a variety of contexts to indicate departure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

35%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "say goodbye" is a versatile and frequently used expression for bidding farewell. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability across various contexts, from casual conversations to news reports. While primarily functioning as a verb phrase, it carries the communicative purpose of acknowledging departure or signaling the end of an interaction. Although generally neutral in register, it's advisable to consider more formal alternatives like "bid farewell" in highly formal situations. The phrase's high frequency and widespread use underscore its importance in everyday communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

See you later

A casual and common way to say goodbye, implying a future meeting.

Bid farewell

A more formal way to say goodbye.

Farewell

A formal and somewhat archaic way of saying goodbye.

Take leave

A formal expression indicating departure.

Wish farewell

Focuses on the act of extending good wishes at departure.

Part ways

Emphasizes separation, often used for more significant or permanent departures.

So long

An informal and slightly old-fashioned way to say goodbye.

Adieu

A French-derived term for goodbye, often implying a more permanent separation.

Leave-taking

A noun phrase describing the act of departing or saying goodbye.

Wave goodbye

Describes the physical action of waving when saying goodbye.

FAQs

How to use "say goodbye" in a sentence?

"Say goodbye" is typically used to instruct someone to bid farewell or to describe the act of doing so. For example, "She had to say goodbye to her friends before moving" or "Remember to say goodbye before you leave".

What can I say instead of "say goodbye"?

You can use alternatives like "bid farewell", "take leave", or "see you later" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "say goodbye" or "said goodbye"?

"Say goodbye" is the present tense form, used for instructions or general statements. "Said goodbye" is the past tense form, used to describe a completed action in the past. For example, "I had to say goodbye" versus "I said goodbye before leaving".

What's the difference between "say goodbye" and "wave goodbye"?

"Say goodbye" refers to the verbal act of bidding farewell. "Wave goodbye" involves the physical gesture of waving while also generally implying that a verbal farewell is exchanged too.