I never did

English

Pronunciation

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Interjection

I never did

1. (idiomatic, dated) An exclamation of great surprise.
   • 185?, Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit

     ‘Why, good gracious, Amy, what ever brought you here?’
     ‘I wanted to see you, Fanny dear; and as I am going out all day to-morrow, and knew you might be engaged all day to-day, I thought—’
     ‘But the idea, Amy, of you coming behind! I never did!’

   • 1939, Scribner's Magazine:

     "Well, I never did!" she exclaimed in a scandalized whisper. "Trying to set fire to the 'ouse — oh, fie".

See also

• well I never