The Meaning of TGIF – What does It Stand for?

What can the world’s famous restaurant chain and a movie about a disco of the late 70s share in common? The day of the week! The T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants and the “Thank God It’s Friday” movie has made the TGIF expression extremely popular.

TGIF stands for “Thank Goodness It’s Friday” or “Thank God It’s Friday”. In the middle of 1960s the TGIF expression became a common expression of relief at the end of the work week and anticipation of relaxing or partying over the weekend. It was popularized by the restaurant T.G.I. Friday’s in 1965, but only at the end of 1970s after the release of “Thank God It’s Friday” the phrase became even more popular.

thank god its friday pic
The American chain of restaurants T.G.I. Friday’s focusing on casual dining asserts that it stands for “Thank Goodness It’s Friday”. Alan Stillman, a founder of the chain, had a goal to create a perfect place for single young people to meet each other. After Tom Cruise played him in the “Cocktail” movie, he understood that he had reached his goal. Now T.G.I. Friday’s has more than 1000 restaurants in 61 countries.

The movie “Thank God It’s Friday” was produced by Motown Productions and directed by Robert Klane. It was produced at the heights of “disco-fever” and tells several stories about the patrons and the staff of the fictional Los Angeles club The Zoo. The real nightclub where the movie was shot is Osko’s at 333 S. La Cienega Blvd in Los Angeles which was closed in the early 1990s. A soundtrack from the movie “Last Dance” won the Academy Award for Best Song in 1979.

T.G.I. Friday’s Thank Goodness It’s Friday