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yikes on bikes

yikes on bikes

9.9
A short shout showing surprise, alarm, or disbelief
  • idiom
  • /jaɪks ɑn baɪks/
  • Informal
translation icon : ¡vaya!
  • Yikes on bikes! That was a close call.

Examples

  • She looked at the bill and said, "yikes on bikes, that's expensive!"

  • Yikes on bikes, I can't believe that happened!

  • Yikes on bikes, I almost missed the bus this morning!

  • Yikes on bikes, did that cat just jump across the fence?

  • Yikes on bikes, I can't believe how fast that car went by!

  • Yikes on bikes, did you see that huge spider on the wall?

  • Yikes on bikes, what a surprising turn of events!

Synonyms

heck
vsyikes on bikes
  • Informal
422 7.5

A small amount of care or worry about something

is stronger and covers alarm or disbelief more directly
jeez
vsyikes on bikes
  • UK
391 9.4

A word people say to show surprise, annoyance, or concern

is more narrowly for sudden surprise, alarm, or disbelief
what the hell
vsyikes on bikes
  • NSFW
347 8.9

An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something

is calmer and used for surprise, alarm, or disbelief without force
what the heck
vsyikes on bikes
  • Informal
90 8.9

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

is used also for sudden alarm and blunt disbelief beyond mild confusion
holy shit
vsyikes on bikes
  • Offensive
26 9.9

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

is less profane and more general for alarm or disbelief
sheesh
vsyikes on bikes
  • Slang
22 9.8

A short word people say to show surprise, admiration, or annoyance

is more often used for alarm or disbelief rather than admiration
ooooh
vsyikes on bikes
  • Informal
16 8.3

A short sound people say to show surprise or excitement

is often sudden alarm or disbelief rather than drawn-out excitement
fucking hell
vsyikes on bikes
  • Offensive
14 9.9

A strong rude shout people use when they feel very angry or shocked

is more general for surprise or alarm without strong anger
oooh
vsyikes on bikes
  • Informal
7 9.1

A short sound people make when they feel a quick pain

is used more for alarm or disbelief rather than mild pain
eek
vsyikes on bikes
  • Informal
5 9.6

A short cry of fear or surprise when something suddenly scares you

is used more generally, not only for sudden fear
goodness gracious
vsyikes on bikes
  • Archaic
5 7.5

A short phrase people say to show surprise or shock

is more informal and can express alarm or disbelief casually
yeesh
vsyikes on bikes
  • Slang
5 9.9

A short word people say to show surprise, discomfort, or mild disgust at something awkward

is used for alarm, disbelief, or general surprise rather than mild disgust
gawd
vsyikes on bikes
  • Slang
4 9.9

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

is used for surprise or alarm without that annoyed tone
freakin
vsyikes on bikes
  • NSFW
4 9.9

A short cry people say to show surprise or anger

is a standalone exclamation for surprise, alarm, or disbelief rather than emphasis
blimey
vsyikes on bikes
  • UK
4 9.5

A short word people say when they are surprised or shocked

is used widely, also to show alarm or disbelief beyond surprise
egad
vsyikes on bikes
  • Archaic
3 9.9

An old word people say to show surprise or shock

is broader modern usage for various surprise and disbelief reactions
geesh
vsyikes on bikes
  • Informal
2 9.9

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

is often stronger and used for alarm rather than mild disbelief
for chrissakes
vsyikes on bikes
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A short exclamation showing surprise, annoyance, or urgency

is used for surprise or alarm without exasperated urgency
aagh
vsyikes on bikes
  • Informal
1 9.9

A short cry people make when they are suddenly scared

is broader and can express disbelief or general surprise beyond fear
yike
vsyikes on bikes
  • Informal
1 9.9

A short word people say to show surprise, discomfort, or embarrassment

is broader, focusing also on alarm and clear disbelief
crikey
vsyikes on bikes
  • UK
1 9.9

A short informal word people say to show surprise or shock

is more versatile and includes alarm or disbelief alongside surprise
yipes
vsyikes on bikes
  • Informal
9.9

A short cry of sudden surprise or fear

is used more broadly for surprise, alarm, or disbelief
to OMG
vsyikes on bikes
  • Slang
8.3

To say or write a short exclamation to show surprise

is a spoken exclamation used freely rather than an initialism
oh my heck
vsyikes on bikes
  • Informal
9.9

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

is less euphemistic and can be stronger or more direct
yipe
vsyikes on bikes
  • Informal
9.6

A short cry showing surprise, fear, or excitement

is used for alarm, disbelief, or general surprise rather than excitement only
yowie
vsyikes on bikes
  • Australian
9.9

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

is focused on surprise, alarm, or disbelief rather than pain
bejeezus
vsyikes on bikes
  • Informal
9.9

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

is used for disbelief or alarm without invoking that emphasis
gadzooks
vsyikes on bikes
  • Archaic
9.9

An old-fashioned shout to show surprise or annoyance

is modern and commonly used for surprise or disbelief today
egads
vsyikes on bikes
  • Archaic
9.9

An old-fashioned shout said to show surprise or shock

is contemporary and covers surprise, alarm, or disbelief widely
whillikers
vsyikes on bikes
  • Archaic
9.9

A word people used long ago to show surprise

is current and used for surprise, alarm, or disbelief in speech
jeepers
vsyikes on bikes
  • Archaic
9.9

An old-fashioned word people say to show surprise

is used more freely today for surprise, alarm, or disbelief
zounds
vsyikes on bikes
  • Archaic
9.9

An old word people say to show surprise or anger

is less archaic and used for simple surprise or disbelief
swounds
vsyikes on bikes
  • Archaic
9.9

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

is modern and used for surprise, alarm, or disbelief in ordinary speech
ecky thump
vsyikes on bikes
  • Archaic
9.9

A short shout showing surprise or disbelief

is more general and not tied to a specific region

Surface Forms

Morphology

yike + on + bikes

The core exclamatory meaning comes directly from 'yikes' (here written as 'yike'), so a learner who knows that word will infer surprise or alarm. However, the addition 'on bikes' is a playful, rhyming intensifier with no literal compositional contribution and is not a standard grammatical composition, so the full form is not fully predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Yikes on bikes likely comes from people taking the shout yikes and adding a rhyming, funny tag on bikes to make the line more dramatic; imagine someone seeing something shocking while bikes rush past and shouting even louder. That silly picture is why people use it to show 'surprise', 'alarm', or 'disbelief'.