gopher

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gopher" is correct and usable in written English, depending on the context.
It can be used to refer to a small burrowing rodent or informally to describe someone who runs errands or does tasks for others. Example: "He was always the gopher in the office, fetching coffee and handling small tasks for the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The enemy is like a gopher: you don't see him, but you know he's there," says Khorvat.

The Economist

The Book of Genesis gives all kinds of architectural details of the ark, a many-roomed structure made of gopher wood; the Koranic version, made of nails and planks, sounds more like a simple raft, though it is capable of navigating waves as big as mountains.

The Economist

True-bred LaManchas must have one of only two distinct ear types: "gopher ears," which may be up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length but preferably are nonexistent; or "elf ears," which have a maximum length of 2 inches (5 cm).

Encyclopedia Britannica

For example, the average genetic distance between four incipient species of the mole rat Spalax ehrenbergi is 0.022, and between those of the gopher Thomomys talpoides it is 0.078.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For example, both the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) and the Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) live in the southern United States and are equally terrestrial, but they are not usually found together, as the box turtle prefers moist forest and the gopher tortoise open woodlands on sand ridges.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To the former class the Dutch contributed cruller, cold-slaw, cockey, scow, boss, smearcase and Santa Claus, and the French contributed gopher, prairie, chowder, carry-all and bureau (a chest of drawers).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Only bucks with gopher ears are accepted for breeding, as bucks with elf ears may sire "throwback" kids with standard longer ears.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Among the common grassland mammals are Richardson's ground squirrel and the pocket gopher, both of which damage young grain crops.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Deer and wild pigs roam the woods; elk inhabit the coniferous forests of the northeast; and steppe rodents, such as the brindled gopher, live in the south.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At the first possible opportunity, he took the road to Dublin to work in a show band office where he was the office gopher – making tea, collecting the dry cleaning, answering the phone and posting letters.

Independent

The quips addressing Trump's hair included: "Number 10: That thing on his head was the gopher in Caddyshack"; "He wants to build a wall?

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gopher" to refer to a person, be mindful of the context. In professional settings, consider more formal alternatives like "assistant" or "errand runner" to avoid sounding dismissive.

Common error

Avoid using "gopher" as a general internet search tool. It refers to a specific, outdated protocol. If you're referring to modern search practices, use terms like "search engine" or "web search" instead.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "gopher" is as a noun, referring to a type of burrowing rodent or, informally, a person who runs errands or does tasks for others. Ludwig's examples showcase its usage in various contexts, from wildlife descriptions to office roles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "gopher" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a burrowing rodent or, informally, someone performing menial tasks. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While frequently found in News & Media and Encyclopedias, its formality varies, with the animal reference being neutral and the task-oriented meaning being informal. When using "gopher" to describe a person, consider the context and opt for more formal alternatives when necessary. Always remember that "gopher" also describes an early Internet protocol which, nowadays, has been replaced by search engines.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gofer

An alternative spelling emphasizing the 'errand runner' meaning.

pocket gopher

Specifies a particular type of gopher, emphasizing its cheek pouches.

spermophile

A synonym for ground squirrel

ground squirrel

Refers to a similar burrowing rodent, but a different species.

gopher tortoise

Identifies a specific species of tortoise known for burrowing, sharing the 'gopher' association.

errand runner

Focuses on the task-oriented meaning of 'gopher', referring to someone who performs errands.

office assistant

Specifies the role of "gopher" in an office setting.

low-level assistant

Describes a person in a subordinate position, similar to the 'gopher' job function.

burrowing animal

General term for animals that dig tunnels, like gophers.

mole

Another burrowing mammal, different from a gopher but sharing a similar lifestyle.

FAQs

How can I use "gopher" in a sentence?

You can use "gopher" to refer to a burrowing rodent, as in, "The farmer tried to trap the gopher destroying his crops". Alternatively, it can describe someone who does menial tasks, for example, "He started as the office gopher before moving up the ranks".

What are some synonyms for "gopher" when referring to a rodent?

When referring to the animal, you can use synonyms like "pocket gopher" or "ground squirrel". Consider "spermophile" as another alternative term.

When is it appropriate to use "gopher" to describe a person?

Using "gopher" to describe a person is generally informal and implies they are performing basic tasks. In professional settings, it's often better to use terms like "assistant", "errand runner", or "office assistant".

What does "gopher" mean in the context of internet history?

"Gopher" was an early internet protocol for accessing and organizing documents. While it's now largely obsolete, it played a significant role in the development of the web. Modern search engines have replaced it.