Etymology Journal ยท W
Well, I'll be!
Meaning
- A shorthand expression for complete astonishment. It usually indicates that the speaker is pleasantly or unpleasantly surprised by a development.
Surprised, casual
Used in a sentence
- Well, I'll be, you actually found it.
- Well, I'll be, I haven't seen you since high school.
- Well, I'll be, it's raining on a sunny day.
The backstory
An abbreviated version of various stronger oaths like 'I'll be damned' or 'I'll be hanged'. It removes the edge while keeping the shock value.
Heard in
Nationwide
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