Etymology Journal · G

Goodness gracious

Meaning

An exclamation of surprise, empathy, or mild shock. It is a standard way to express emotion without resorting to coarse language.

Polite, gentle

Used in a sentence

Goodness gracious, did you burn your hand on the stove?
Goodness gracious, there are so many people here today.
Goodness gracious, that is a beautiful sunset.

The backstory

This phrase pairs two words that denote quality and kindness. It has been used as a polite interjection for centuries and is common in both British and American English.

Heard in

Nationwide

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