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goodnight vienna
01
used to indicate that a situation is finished, ruined, or beyond recovery
Dialect
British
BritishSlang
What does "goodnight Vienna" mean in British slang?
The structure is a rhyming phrase that pairs the finality of "goodnight" with the name of a European city for dramatic, humorous effect. It is used in British slang to indicate that a situation is finished, ruined, or beyond recovery, similar to "it's all over" or "game over." People typically say "If we miss this train, it's goodnight Vienna" or "He forgot his lines, so goodnight Vienna."
Examples
If the boiler breaks now, it's goodnight Vienna for the heating.
