Many exclamations we recognise are attempts to avoid blasphemy. Jeez! comes from ‘Jesus’, as does Gee whiz!, Jeepers! and Jiminy Christmas!, while Golly!, Gosh! and Gordon Bennett! are from ‘God’. Cripes!, Crikey! and Crumbs! are attempts to tone down saying ‘Christ’. The Cockney exclamation Gor blimey! comes from ‘God blind me!’ and Strewth! is from ‘God’s truth’.
Some expressions rarely heard in common vernacular nowadays: As I live and breathe! Marry! Gadzooks! Geewhillikins! Great Scott! My wig and whiskers!
Americans have many colourful exclamations, such as Get outta here! I’ll be hog-wallered! I’m jitterbugged! Heavens to Betsy! Misery me! Oh my stars! Well I’ll be! Fiddlesticks! Hell and tarnation! Carry me out with the tongs!
An exclamation doesn’t only show surprise. It’s defined as a word or phrase that expresses strong emotion, such as surprise, pleasure, pain or anger. Great! Ouch! Damn! Cheerio! Bless you! Ha! Oh dear! Bravo! Ahoy! Hurray! Attaboy! and many more.
Have I missed your favourite? Drop me a line and let me know.
Happy Puzzling, by Crikey!
