Etymology Journal ยท W
Well, I swan!
Meaning
- A mild exclamation of surprise or emphasis. It sounds like an old timey way of swearing without actually saying anything offensive.
Old-fashioned, gentle
Used in a sentence
- Well, I swan, I never expected it to snow in April.
- Well, I swan, that is a fine looking porch you built.
- Well, I swan, he actually finished his chores early.
The backstory
This is a corruption of the word 'swear'. People started saying 'I swan' to avoid the religious implications of saying 'I swear to God'.
Heard in
The South / Appalachia
Vibe check