do-gooder

This page is about the dysphemism do-gooder

Meaning

a person who helps people or animals, like a charity worker or an animal rights activist

For example

  • Those Greenpeace do-gooders are trying to stop our dolphin hunt again.

  • Why do these do-gooders help people anyway? They don't even get paid!

Note:
This dysphemism is used to insult or disparage people who "do good" by helping other people or animals. Those who insult people by calling them "do-gooders" might do this because their interests are threatened in some way. For example, a factory owner who mistreats workers might call someone who teaches the workers about labour rights a "do-gooder".

Quick Quiz

If someone calls you a "do-gooder", they're

a. insulting you

b. praising you

c. helping you
a) insulting you b) praising you c) helping you

Contributor: Matt Errey