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Originating in the 19th century as a soft exclamation of surprise or emphasis, gee is a mild euphemism for "Jesus" that became common in rural and polite American speech. Its tone is old-fashioned and somewhat quaint today, though it retains usefulness for expressing amazement, delight, or mild astonishment in a wholesome, inoffensive way.

What is the origin of the exclamation "gee" and how is it used?

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Derived as a euphemistic minced oath for "Jesus," jeez or geez appeared in early 20th-century American slang as a way to express frustration, annoyance, or surprise without overt blasphemy. Its usage spans casual speech, comics, and everyday exclamations, maintaining strong expressive force while remaining socially acceptable. Modern speakers typically use it to convey impatience, disbelief, or exasperation in informal contexts, and it works in both mild complaints and shocked reactions.

What is the origin of the exclamation "jeez/geez" and how is it used?

jeez

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"Wow" is an interjection commonly used in English to convey a sense of awe or excitement. "Wow" can be uttered in response to something impressive, unexpected, or remarkable. It is a versatile word that can express a wide range of emotions depending on the context and tone of voice.

What is the context of use of 'wow'?

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whoa

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"Damn" is an English exclamatory term that dates back to Middle English (around the 14th century) and originally meant to condemn someone or something to divine punishment. Over time, it developed into a common informal expression of strong feeling, used to show surprise, astonishment, frustration, or emphasis. It is moderately vulgar—offensive to religious audiences—but widely accepted in casual speech, media, and everyday conversation. Its impact depends on context and tone, ranging from mild emphasis to stronger emotional expression.

What is the origin of the term "damn" and how is it used?

damn

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Holy moly is an exclamation used to express surprise, shock, or amazement. It appeared in American English in the early 20th century, likely as a playful euphemism for "holy Mary" or "holy Moses," replacing sacred names with a harmless, rhyming word. The phrase became popular in newspapers, comic strips, radio, and everyday speech, especially from the 1920s onward, and was often used in lighthearted or humorous contexts. Today it sounds whimsical, slightly old-fashioned, and inoffensive.

What is the origin of the idiom "holy moly" and when to use it?

holy moly

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Holy cow is an exclamation used to express surprise, amazement, or disbelief. It appeared in American English in the early 20th century as a playful euphemism for "holy Christ," allowing speakers to react strongly without swearing. People used it in newspapers, cartoons, radio, and everyday conversation to convey astonishment or shock in a humorous or emphatic way. Today it is inoffensive, widely recognized, and lighthearted, often adding a fun or dramatic tone to expressions of surprise or amazement.

What is the origin of the idiom "holy cow" and when to use it?

holy cow

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"Holy crap" is an informal interjection meant to convey intense emotion, often in response to something surprising or extraordinary. It may be considered mildly vulgar in some contexts.

holy crap

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Holy smoke is an exclamation used to express surprise, shock, or amazement. It appeared in American and British English in the late 19th to early 20th century as a euphemistic alternative to "holy God" or "holy ghost," softening religious references while still conveying strong emotion. People used it in newspapers, everyday speech, and entertainment to react to astonishing or unexpected events. Today it is inoffensive, somewhat old-fashioned, and expressive, often adding a dramatic or playful tone to reactions without being vulgar.

What is the origin of the exclamation "holy smoke" and how is it used?

holy smoke

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Holy mackerel is an exclamation used to express surprise, amazement, or shock. It appeared in American English in the early 20th century, likely as a playful euphemism replacing "holy [something sacred]," with "mackerel" chosen for its alliterative sound rather than meaning. It was common in newspapers, cartoons, and everyday speech, especially in the 1920s–1950s, and became part of lighthearted or comic expressions of astonishment. Today it sounds old-fashioned, whimsical, or humorous, and is not considered offensive.

What is the origin of the exclamation "holy mackerel" and how is it used?

holy mackerel

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no way

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dear me

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fancy that

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goddamn

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Golly is an exclamation used to express surprise, amazement, or delight. It appeared in American English in the late 19th century as a mild euphemism for "God," allowing people to react strongly without swearing. It became popular in newspapers, literature, and cartoons, especially in the early 20th century, and carries a wholesome, old-fashioned, and inoffensive tone today.

What is the origin of the exclamation "golly" and how is it used?

golly

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Blimey is a British exclamation used to express astonishment, shock, or disbelief. It originated in late 19th-century England as a shortened, softened form of "God blind me," following a common pattern of creating euphemistic expressions that avoid directly invoking God. It became widespread in everyday speech, newspapers, and popular culture, especially in working-class and Cockney communities. Today it sounds colloquial, slightly old-fashioned, and inoffensive, often adding a playful or emphatic tone rather than serious alarm.

What is the origin of the exclamation "blimey" and how is it used?

blimey

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"I'll be damned" comes from the verb "damn," which entered English through religious language meaning to condemn someone to eternal punishment. By the 18th–19th centuries, it evolved into an oath used figuratively to express strong emotion rather than literal belief. The phrase specifically developed as an exclamation of surprise or disbelief, implying something is so unexpected that the speaker would be "damned" if it were not true. It appears widely in everyday conversation, literature, and film dialogue. The expression is mildly profane but generally context-dependent, often sounding casual or conversational rather than offensive in modern use.

What is the origin of the term "I'll be damned" and how is it used?

I'll be damned

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The idiom "lo and behold" is a phrase used to express surprise or discovery when something unexpected or confusing is revealed. It is a way of drawing attention to the remarkable or unforeseen nature of what has just occurred. This expression has been in use for centuries and is derived from Middle English and Old English, where "lo" means "look" and "behold" means "see" or "observe."

What is the origin of the idiom "lo and behold" and when to use it?

lo and behold

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"Mamma mia" is an Italian interjection that has been adopted into English and is commonly used to express a variety of emotions, including surprise, disbelief, astonishment, or excitement.  It's also commonly associated with Italian culture and cuisine, which can add a sense of flair or authenticity to its usage.

What is the context of use of 'mamma mia'?

mamma mia

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no kidding

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"Stone me" is a colloquial expression that conveys a sense of incredulity or amazement. The phrase is common in British English and is often used in casual conversation or storytelling.

What is the context of use of 'stone me'?

stone me

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What in the world is an exclamation used to express shock, disbelief, or confusion about a situation. It appeared in English in the 18th–19th century as a polite alternative to more forceful expressions involving God or strong curses. People used it in everyday speech, literature, and formal writing to react to surprising or confusing events without offending anyone. Today it is inoffensive, widely understood, and neutral, often signaling astonishment, bewilderment, or mild incredulity in both casual and formal contexts.

What is the origin of the exclamation "what in the world" and how is it used?

what in the world

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"You don't say" is an informal interjection used to express surprise, disbelief, or irony. It's sometimes used sarcastically or rhetorically to respond to something that is obvious or already known to the speaker.

what is the context of use of 'you don't say'?

you don't say

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These interjections are used in contexts where the speaker wants to express strong feelings of surprise and astonishments, with different levels of formality.

English Interjections for "Surprise"