blimey
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
A minced oath from [God] blind me, concurrent with or from an abbreviation of gorblimey and cor blimey. Compare crivvens, drat, etc.
Pronunciation
Interjection
blimey
- (UK, Australia, New Zealand) Expressing anger, surprise, excitement, etc. [From 1889.]
- Blimey! I didn't see that!
- 1945, Kenneth Lewis Roberts, British Mysteries, in The Kenneth Roberts Reader, 2002, page 191,
- “Blimey!” he says in his rough, shepherd's voice, “blimey, but it′s cruel ′ard to be chucked out of one′s digs wivout a blarsted word! […] ”
- 2007, Penny Vincenzi, The Dilemma[1], page 311:
- ‘Blimey,’ said Barnaby. ‘Come on, Jack, quick as you can.’
- ‘Blimey,’ said Jack. ‘Blimey blimey blimey.’
- 2011, Duncan Campbell, If It Bleeds, unnumbered page,
- ‘Blimey,’ said Laurie. ‘But how would he know that the Old Bill are going to swallow that? It′s a bit bloody obvious that someone must have planted it on Petrov, isn′t it?’
Synonyms
- See Thesaurus:wow
Derived terms
Terms derived from blimey
Translations
expressing surprise, etc.
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