I declare
Well, how surprising!
I declare is a mild exclamation expressing surprise or emphasis, now old-fashioned and mostly Southern American: Well, I declare, I never expected to see you here!
It functions like "my goodness" or "well, I never"—a way to register astonishment without profanity.
The phrase sounds quaint to modern ears, often used for folksy or ironic effect.
- announceState something officially
- proclaimDeclare officially and openly
- I doMarriage consent phrase
- assertDeclare confidently true
- stateCondition or mode
affirm · pronounce · vow · swear · so help me God · under oath · decree · profess · exclaim · avow · insist · testify · claim · oath · solemn · courthouse · customs · gavel
- Old-timey exclamationsgolly, gee whiz, jeepers, gadzooks, fiddlesticks
- British Exclamationsblimey, bloody hell, crikey, cor blimey, strewth
- Victorian Exclamationsby Jove, good heavens, good gracious, goodness gracious, bless my soul
- exclamationsoh, yes, no, wow, hey
- folk sayingsproverb, adage, maxim, folk saying, old saying
I declareso what
Expression of indifference
big deal · who cares · whatever · meh · as expected
I declareholy shit
Profane expression of shock
what the hell · damn · goddamn · Jesus Christ · bloody hell
declare, declaration, declarative, declaratory, declared, declaring, declares, declarer, undeclared