- An exclamation expressing surprise, astonishment, or sometimes mild shock.
- Chiefly associated with British English.
Explanation
Origin
- A corruption of the oath (God) blind me.
- Emerged in the late 19th century in London (Cockney) dialect and spread.
- Like Jeez, it's a minced oath, avoiding the full, potentially blasphemous phrase.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Milder:
- Wow / Whoa
- Gosh
- Goodness me
Informal/Regional:
- Crikey (Aus/NZ)
- Cor! (UK, dated)
- Strewth! (Aus, dated)
Stronger/Vulgar (Expressing similar surprise/shock):
- Bloody hell! (UK/Aus/NZ)
- Fuck me!
- Holy shit! / Holy crap!
- Jesus Christ!
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal. Strongly associated with British vernacular.
- Sounds quaint or theatrical if used by non-Brits, unless done humorously.
- Generally mild and inoffensive, but its informality makes it unsuitable for very formal settings.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Non-native speakers outside the UK might not recognize it or might find it sounds strange.
- Its meaning is straightforward (surprise), but its usage is culturally specific.
Examples
- Surprise/Astonishment: Blimey! Look at the size of that cake!
- Surprise/Shock: Blimey, I wasn't expecting that!
- Mild Alarm: Blimey, you gave me a fright!
Dialogue
George: Did you see the score? We won 5-0!
Arthur: Blimey! Really? I thought it'd be a close match!
George: I know! Completely unexpected.
Arthur: Blimey... Well, that's fantastic news!
Social Media Examples
- Tweet (likely from UK user): Blimey, it's actually sunny today! Better make the most of it. #ukweather
- Comment on a surprising photo: Blimey! Where was this taken?
- Forum post (UK-centric): Paid £8 for a pint in London. Blimey...
Response Patterns
- Doesn't require a direct response. Listeners understand it as an expression of surprise.
- Listeners might share the surprise (I know!) or ask for clarification (What is it?).
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- The speaker might elaborate on what caused the surprise (...I've never seen one so big!).
- A listener might ask, What's up? or What happened?.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a reaction.
Intonation
- Exclamatory, usually with stress on the first syllable (BLImey).
- Often has a sharp falling or rising-falling intonation. BLImey!
Generation Differences
- Associated more with older generations in the UK, or with a particular character type (e.g., traditional Cockney). Younger Brits might use it less frequently than expressions like Wow, Oh my god, or Bloody hell, but it's still well-understood and sometimes used, perhaps slightly ironically.
Regional Variations
- Chiefly British English. Heard occasionally in other Commonwealth countries influenced by British culture, but strongly identified with the UK. Largely absent from American English.