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Etymology Journal ยท K

Knock me down and call me shorty!

Meaning

An expression of extreme surprise or disbelief. It is the verbal equivalent of a jaw dropping to the floor.

Exclamatory, humorous

Used in a sentence

  • Well, knock me down and call me shorty, I never thought he would win the lottery!
  • Knock me down and call me shorty, I cannot believe you finally finished that project.
  • If they actually show up on time, well, knock me down and call me shorty.

The backstory

This is a classic piece of Southern and rural colloquialism. It uses self-deprecating humor to emphasize how shocked the speaker is by a piece of news.

Heard in

The South

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