Stupid, arrogant, naive, gullible and/or gossipy

Compared to ducks and swans geese are usually depicted more negatively. The English language has the expression "you silly goose." Since geese travel to the South during the winter they are often depicted as travelers. Note that like their duck relatives, wild geese are portrayed differently to their domesticated/anthropomorphic counterparts.

The goose step is a special marching step performed on formal military parades and other ceremonies. While marching in parade formation, troops swing their legs in unison high off the ground, while keeping their legs straight and unbent. Originating in Prussian military drill in the mid-18th century, the step was called the Stechschritt (literally, "piercing step") or Stechmarsch. Although "goose step" is a pejorative term in English, it is used officially by the armed forces of the nearly 50 countries that maintain the tradition. George Orwell commented that the goose step was used only in countries where the population was too scared to laugh at their military.