gooseberry bush

• Expresión inglesa que designa un arbusto de grosella espinosa, pero que se usa sobre todo en dos sentidos figurados: en la frase «bajo el arbusto de grosella» para explicar a los niños el nacimiento, o en la expresión «hacer de carabina», referida a una tercera persona no deseada que acompaña a una pareja.

An old-fashioned British expression referring to a gooseberry bush, historically used in the phrase 'under the gooseberry bush' to explain childbirth to children, or in the idiom 'play gooseberry' meaning to be an unwanted third person accompanying a couple.

1. A thorny shrubB1formal

   A small, thorny shrub that produces edible green or red berries, often used in jams and desserts.

   grosellero espinoso

   • The gooseberry bush in the garden is full of ripe berries.
   • She planted a gooseberry bush near the fence.
   • We picked gooseberries from the bush to make jam.

2. Children's mythB2informalbritish

   A traditional, humorous explanation given to children about where babies come from, suggesting they are found under a gooseberry bush.

   arbusto de grosellas

   • When he asked where babies came from, his parents told him they were found under a gooseberry bush.
   • The old gooseberry bush story is rarely used today.
   • She laughed at the silly gooseberry bush explanation.