Interjection
blimey
- (UK, Commonwealth, Ireland) Used to express anger, excitement, surprise, etc. [From late 19th c.]
- Synonyms: wow; see also Thesaurus:wow
Blimey! I didn’t see that!
Blimey! Where did you come from?
1897 September, Richard Marsh [pseudonym; Richard Bernard Heldmann], “Outside”, in The Beetle: A Mystery, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin […], published August 1907, →OCLC, book I (The House with the Open Window), page 4:'But, if there's room, aren't they bound to take me in?' / 'Course they are,—and, blimey, if I was you I'd make 'em. Blimey I would!'
1915, Harry S. Miller (lyrics and music), “Blime Me, O’Reilly (You’re Doing Quite Well) [cover title: Blime Me Mr. O’Reilly but You’re Looking Mighty Well]”, New York, N.Y.: The Cadillac Music; Springfield, Mass.; Chicago, Ill.: A. H. Goetting, →OCLC, page 5:If you're the O'Reilly, they speak of so highly, / Why blime me, O'Reilly, you're doing quite well.
1935, Kenneth [Lewis] Roberts, “For Authors Only”, in For Authors Only: And Other Gloomy Essays, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Doran & Company, →OCLC, page 11:"Blimey!" he says in his rough, shepherd's voice, "blimey, but it's cruel 'ard to be chucked out of one's digs wivout a blarsted word! [...]"
1996, Penny Vincenzi, The Dilemma, London: Headline Review, published 2007, →ISBN, page 311:‘Blimey,’ said Barnaby. ‘Come on, Jack, quick as you can.’ / ‘Blimey,’ said Jack. ‘Blimey blimey blimey.’
2009, Duncan Campbell, chapter 5, in If It Bleeds, London: Headline Publishing Group, published 2011, →ISBN:‘Blimey,’ said Laurie. ‘Is she serious? Was it something I said?’
2013, Mark Johnston, “Introduction”, in Anzacs in the Middle East: Australian Soldiers, Their Allies and the Local People in World War II, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Port Melbourne, Vic.: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 1:According to an Australian gunner, 'a nostalgic little new-arrival' among the Tommies asked: 'Is it true all you Aussies are volunteers?' When told that it was, '… he hesitated a moment. Then he blurted out: "Blime, choom, y' must 've 'ad a fair ——— of a 'ome-life!"'
Translations
used to express anger, excitement, surprise, etc.
- Catalan: ostres (ca)
- Czech: no nazdar; páni (cs); přisámbu, jejdanánku (cs), jémine (cs), ajcem trajcem (cs), šmankote (cs); ať do mě hrom uhodí; sakryš
- Dutch: amai (nl), verdraaid (nl)
- Finnish: helkkari (fi), jukra (fi), jukranpujut (fi)
- French: bon sang (fr), diantre (fr), fichtre (fr), mazette (fr), mince (fr)
- German: (Gott) verdamm mich! (expletive), verdammt (de) (slang), sakra (Southern German slang), (please verify) na sowas
- Italian: cribbio (it), dannazione (it), foccalabindella, miseriaccia, ostia (it), perbacco (it), urca (it)
- Portuguese: caraças (pt) f pl
- Spanish: caramba (es)
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