Etymology Journal ยท W
Well, I'll be a son of a gun!
Meaning
- A classic exclamation used when something catches you off guard. It is generally lighthearted and rarely meant as an insult.
Folksy, shocked
Used in a sentence
- Well, I'll be a son of a gun, the lawnmower actually started.
- Well, I'll be a son of a gun, you grew another foot since last summer.
- Well, I'll be a son of a gun, we made it just in time.
The backstory
Historically, it refers to children born on the decks of warships, but by the 19th century, it had become a general, mild term of surprise in American English.
Heard in
Nationwide
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