Etymology Journal ยท H
Heavens to Murgatroyd!
Meaning
- This is an even sillier, more theatrical way to express surprise. It serves the same purpose as heavens to Betsy but carries a bit more dramatic flair.
Dramatic, retro
Used in a sentence
- Heavens to Murgatroyd, I forgot to turn the oven off!
- When the cake collapsed, he shouted, Heavens to Murgatroyd!
- Heavens to Murgatroyd, is that really a snake in the mailbox?
The backstory
This phrase was popularized by the cartoon character Snagglepuss in the 1960s. He borrowed it from 1940s film scripts, but it likely started as a way to avoid swearing by using a nonsensical, made up name.
Heard in
Nationwide
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