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golly

golly

24 9.9
A word people say to show mild surprise
  • interjection
  • /ˈɡɑːli/
  • Archaic
translation icon : vaya
  • OK, golly, it's a it's a tiny little guy, man.
  • Oh, golly
  • Golly gosh
  • Golly gee

Many of us will look back and say golly I wish it made this much sense then.

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Examples

  • Oh, my golly, I can use my smartphone!

  • Golly, go see what's going-oing on over there.

  • Many of us will look back and say golly I wish it made this much sense then.

  • I said okay, golly, okay, I get it.

  • Oh, golly, will you look at that.

  • Good golly, was Miss Molly ever right!

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Well, golly, I sure didn't mean to hurt anyone.

  • It is now dinner time and golly, I'm tired.

  • Good golly, I'm sure glad that R.J. is around to correct all of us.

    Blog text (16)
  • Oh, golly, will you look at that!

Synonyms

gosh
vsgolly
  • Informal
553 6.4

An exclamation showing surprise, wonder, or mild annoyance

is older and more purely amazed rather than polite substitution
heck
vsgolly
  • Informal
422 7.5

A small amount of care or worry about something

is older and more quaint than this mild substitute
hoo
vsgolly
  • Informal
359 9.9

A shout people make to show excitement or surprise

is older and more quaint than this lively shout
what the hell
vsgolly
  • NSFW
347 8.9

An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something

is older and more gently amazed rather than strongly angry
what the heck
vsgolly
  • Informal
90 8.9

A short cry to show surprise, confusion, disbelief, or casual acceptance

is older and more quaint than this questioning form
my gosh
vsgolly
  • Informal
46 8.6

A short phrase people say to show surprise or admiration

is older and more old fashioned in tone
ooo
vsgolly
  • Informal
36 9.4

A short sound people say to show surprise or admiration

is more old-fashioned and exclamatory than a simple sound
oooh
vsgolly
  • Informal
31 8.7

A quiet sound people make when they are surprised or impressed

is shorter and more old-fashioned in character
holy shit
vsgolly
  • Offensive
26 9.9

A strong phrase people say when they are very surprised or shocked

is milder and more politely surprised
lordy
vsgolly
  • Informal
17 9.4

A short informal cry showing surprise or strong feeling

is older and more quaint than this informal shout
ooooh
vsgolly
  • Informal
16 8.3

A short sound people say to show surprise or excitement

is shorter and more concise in old-fashioned speech
gah
vsgolly
  • Informal
13 9.9

A short sound people make when they feel frustrated, annoyed, or surprised

is older and softer in emotional sharpness
goodness gracious
vsgolly
  • Archaic
5 7.5

A short phrase people say to show surprise or shock

is more simply old-fashioned and less polite-formal
gawd
vsgolly
  • Slang
4 9.9

A short informal word people say when they feel surprise, shock, or annoyance

is gentler and more old fashioned in tone
blimey
vsgolly
  • UK
4 9.5

A short word people say when they are surprised or shocked

is older and more quaint than this informal form
oooo
vsgolly
  • Informal
3 9.9

A short sound people make to show surprise or admiration

is a short, old-fashioned exclamation rather than a sound
holy crap
vsgolly
  • Offensive
3 9.6

To say when you are very surprised or shocked

is milder and more politely amazed
egad
vsgolly
  • Archaic
3 9.9

An old word people say to show surprise or shock

is softer and more gently amazed
geesh
vsgolly
  • Informal
2 9.9

An informal word people say to show surprise, annoyance, or that they do not believe something

is more old-fashioned and less informal in style
oho
vsgolly
  • Archaic
2 9.9

A short cry showing surprise or sudden understanding

is more purely amazed rather than signaling realization
oh my gosh
vsgolly
  • Informal
2 7.0

To show surprise, shock or disbelief in a mild, polite way

is older and more quaint rather than a mild substitute
gor
vsgolly
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An old word people say to show surprise or strong feeling

is slightly more genteel and less abrupt in feeling
begod
vsgolly
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A short old word people say to show surprise or strong feeling

is secular and more gently amazed in tone
strewth
vsgolly
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An old-fashioned word said to show surprise or strong feeling

is simpler and slightly more conversational in tone
gorry
vsgolly
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A mild old word people say to show surprise

is slightly more direct and less mild in tone
begorra
vsgolly
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An old Irish word said to show surprise or strong feeling

is less regionally marked and more generally used
oh my glob
vsgolly
  • Slang
9.9

A friendly phrase people say to show surprise or excitement

is older and more quaint rather than playful or euphemistic
damme
vsgolly
  • Archaic
9.9

An old word that people say to show surprise or strong feeling

is milder and more quaint in everyday use
oh my heck
vsgolly
  • Informal
9.9

A short phrase people say when they feel surprised or do not believe something

is more dated and less euphemistic in feeling
whillikers
vsgolly
  • Archaic
9.9

A word people used long ago to show surprise

is simpler and slightly more modern in feel
holy doodle
vsgolly
  • Informal
9.9

A word people say to show strong surprise

is more dated and less playful in everyday use
zowie
vsgolly
  • Archaic
9.9

A short shout people use to show surprise or excitement, often in a playful way

is more straightforwardly old-fashioned than this playful cry
bejeezus
vsgolly
  • Informal
9.9

A loud informal shout that shows surprise, shock, or strong annoyance

is older and less intense emotionally
to OMG
vsgolly
  • Slang
8.3

To say or write a short exclamation to show surprise

is spoken and sounds more old fashioned in speech
gosh all hemlock
vsgolly
  • Archaic
9.9

A short shout people use when they feel surprised or frustrated

is older and more purely surprised than playful
bedad
vsgolly
  • Archaic
9.9

A short old Irish phrase people say to show surprise or strong feeling

is less regionally marked and more general in use
bejabbers
vsgolly
  • Archaic
9.9

An old word people say to show surprise or strong feeling

is slightly more modern and less regionally marked
egads
vsgolly
  • Archaic
9.9

An old-fashioned shout said to show surprise or shock

is somewhat more commonly used historically but still dated
gadzooks
vsgolly
  • Archaic
9.9

An old-fashioned shout to show surprise or annoyance

is gentler and more purely amazed in tone
jeepers
vsgolly
  • Archaic
9.9

An old-fashioned word people say to show surprise

is slightly more neutral and less theatrical
zounds
vsgolly
  • Archaic
9.9

An old word people say to show surprise or anger

is softer and more amazed than this often angry form
swounds
vsgolly
  • Archaic
9.9

An old word people say to show surprise, anger, or shock

is older and milder compared with this stronger archaic form
yowie
vsgolly
  • Australian
9.9

A short cry people say when surprised, hurt, or disgusted

is older and focused on simple surprise or amazement

How Surprised

wow
  • Informal
1.0
golly
  • Archaic
24 9.9
gosh
  • Informal
553 6.4
oh
1.0
huh
  • Informal
8.0

Surface Forms

golly main

Etymology

Golly is a gentle, old-fashioned way to say God without sounding rude, a softened form like gosh. So when people say golly, they show 'surprise' or 'amazement' in a polite way.