gone-zo

Alteration of gone, likely influenced by gonzo.

• enPR: gŏnʹzō
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɑnzoʊ/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɒnzəʊ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒnzəʊ
• Homophone: gonzo

gone-zo (not comparable)

1. (slang) Gone, departed, absent
   • 2015 June 16, Aziz Ansari, Eric Klinenberg, Modern Romance, Penguin, →ISBN:

     Once again, he was pretty quick to take down a doughnut, and then, faster than you could wipe the last few crumbs of a French cruller off your upper lip, Alfredo was gone-zo.

   • 2021 March 28, Janine Brito, “Dance Dance Resolution” (5:35 from the start), in Bless the Harts‎^[1], season 2, episode 15, spoken by Betty Hart (Maya Rudolph):

     “Wayne, are you doing the speed limit?” “Of course. Don't you worry about that. You'll thank me later.” “Oh, you idiot. Everybody knows the real speed limit is ten above. By the time we get to the Mountain Flea, my sign will be gone-zo.”

2. (slang) Dead or otherwise finished.
   • 2017 June 13, Brian Buccellato, Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five Vol. 3, DC Comics, →ISBN:

     From now on, Harley Quinn is no more. She is gone-zo. Kaput. Done-ski.

   • 2019 February 5, Peter Mendelsund, Same Same: A Novel, Vintage, →ISBN, page 208:

     Dead as a polished stone. I stand over it, red-faced, sweaty, deshabilled, murderous. There is a period of panting. Watching. Satisfied that the device is gone-zo, I lie down on the spot, and curl up.

3. (slang) In a fugue state, for example due to mental illness or intoxication.
   • 2009, Marley Gibson, The Guidance, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, →ISBN, page 203:

     "You ask me," Jason says, "the girl has lost her facilities. Gone-zo!"

   • 2012 August 7, Caroline B. Cooney, Fire, Open Road Media, →ISBN:

     "She has flipped out," whispered Vicki. "You were right, Mrs. Shevvington. Christina is gone-zo."

   • 2014 April 1, Willow Summers, Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2), K.F. Breene, →ISBN:

     She didn't go mindless. She kept logic around to look over the proceedings, which was never as good for her or the people she was with, but in this situation, she didn't have much choice. It didn't seem to matter - Sean was gone-zo.