by gummy
- idiom
- UK
:
¡vaya!
- Well, by gummy, that was unexpected!
Examples
-
She fixed the machine herself, by gummy!
-
By gummy, that was a close call!
-
By gummy, it's colder than I expected this morning.
-
I couldn't believe it, by gummy!
-
By gummy, it's colder than I expected this morning.
-
By gummy, that was a close call!
-
Well, by gummy, that was unexpected!
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Before a noun in an exclamation to show surprise or strong feeling
146
1.0
To show surprise or doubt, often with irony
68
9.8
A short phrase showing surprise and not believing what someone said
24
9.9
A word people say to show mild surprise
17
9.4
A short informal cry showing surprise or strong feeling
13
7.4
Shows surprise or mild doubt about what someone just said
8
2.6
Words people say when they are surprised to see something
5
7.5
A short phrase people say to show surprise or shock
4
9.5
A short word people say when they are surprised or shocked
3
7.7
Said when you doubt what someone says, often ironically
1
9.9
A strong shout that shows surprise or confusion
An old word people say to show surprise or strong feeling
An old word that people say to show surprise or strong feeling
A short phrase people say to show surprise at something amazing
A short phrase people say to show surprise or confusion
An informal phrase people say to show surprise or disbelief
Shows surprise about the degree or quality of something
How Surprised
Surface Forms
Morphology
by + gummy
This exclamation is idiomatic and historically a minced oath (cf. 'by gum'), so its meaning 'to express surprise' cannot be predicted from the literal senses of 'by' and 'gummy' (the latter here is not used in its ordinary adjective sense). Even if a learner knows both words separately, the interjectional use is language-specific and unpredictable, making it opaque to B1 learners without prior exposure.
Etymology
By gummy may come from the older exclamation by gum, a softer way people used instead of saying 'by God'. Adding the '-y' ending made it more playful, so by gummy keeps the same strong, surprised feeling and is used to show or stress 'surprise'.