phr. (American).—Everything is going swimmingly. [An allusion to the ‘sport’ of gander pulling. A gander was plucked, thoroughly greased, especially about the head and neck, and tied tight by the feet to the branch of a tree. The game was then to ride furiously at the mark, catch it by the head or neck, and attempt to bear it away. With every failure the fun would get more uproarious].
1867. Round Table, 30 July. I am not aware that any one has asked you the meaning of the slang phrase, EVERYTHING GOES LOVELY AND THE GOOSE HANGS HIGH; but doubtless … it is derived from the Southern sport(!) of ‘Gander-pulling.’
