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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Say Goodbye: Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：bid farewell (say goodbye)

say goodbye 🔊

/seɪ ɡʊdˈbaɪ/

phr.v

To speak the word 'goodbye' when you are leaving someone or a place.

Child waving goodbye at doorway leaving home

bid farewell 🔊

➕

/bɪd fɛrˈwɛl/

phr.v

To utter the word 'goodbye' as a sign of leaving or ending a meeting.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

say (Old English secgan) + goodbye (contraction of 'God be with you')

💡 Mnemonic

Think of waving your hand and saying 'bye' to remember 'say goodbye'.

📖 Example

We went to the train station, and my mom said goodbye one last time before I boarded. 🔊 We went to the train station, and my mom said goodbye one last time before I boarded.

🔗 Collocations

say goodbye to someone – To bid farewell to a person

wave goodbye – To gesture farewell by moving one's hand

say goodbye to something – To formally part with something

🔄 Synonyms

bid farewell (phr.v) – To say goodbye formally

take leave (phr.v) – To depart from someone or a place

part ways (phr.v) – To go separate directions

🚫 Antonyms

say hello (phr.v) – To greet someone

greet (v) – To address with a welcome

welcome (v) – To receive gladly

📖 Cultural Story

Goodbye originated in the 16th century from the phrase 'God be with ye,' a blessing said upon parting. Over time, it was shortened to 'goodbye.'

Meaning 2：let go of (say goodbye)

say goodbye 🔊

/seɪ ɡʊdˈbaɪ/

phr.v

To accept that something is ending or that you will not have it anymore.

Adult placing old toys into memory box letting go

let go of 🔊

➕

/lɛt ɡoʊ ʌv/

phr.v

To accept that something is coming to an end and to stop being involved with it emotionally or physically.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

David quit smoking last month and finally said goodbye to that unhealthy habit. 🔊 David quit smoking last month and finally said goodbye to that unhealthy habit.

🔗 Collocations

say goodbye to a habit – To give up a recurring behavior

say goodbye to the past – To move on from previous experiences

say goodbye to illusions – To abandon false beliefs

🔄 Synonyms

abandon (v) – To give up completely

relinquish (v) – To voluntarily give up

part with (phr.v) – To give away possession of something

🚫 Antonyms

hold on to (phr.v) – To continue to keep

keep (v) – To retain possession

retain (v) – To keep in one's possession