Etymology Journal ยท G
Golly
Meaning
- A mild expression of surprise, wonder, or excitement. It is a polite, sanitized alternative to stronger expletives.
Wholesome, innocent
Used in a sentence
- Golly, that is a huge pumpkin you grew in the garden.
- Golly, I almost forgot that today was your birthday.
- Golly, that was a close call with that icy patch.
The backstory
This is a classic minced oath, which is a way of saying something that sounds like a curse word but avoids the religious offense of saying God. It dates back to the 19th century.
Heard in
Nationwide
Vibe check