good gracious
Expression of surprise
Good gracious is a mild exclamation of surprise, alarm, or dismay: Good gracious, I completely forgot about the meeting.
It functions as a softened oath, substituting "gracious" for "God" to avoid blasphemy.
The expression sounds old-fashioned or genteel, often used by older speakers or for comic effect.
Sometimes shortened to just gracious.
- oh myExclamation of surprise
- dear meGentle dismay expression
- bless my soulMild surprised exclamation
- heavens aboveExclamation expressing surprise
- my wordMild interjection of surprise
upon my word · mercy me · astonishment · land sakes · sakes alive · saints alive · my stars · bewilderment · well I never · blimey · for heaven's sake · disbelief · wonderment · oh dear · holy moly · awe · incredulity · gasp
- exclamationsoh, yes, no, wow, hey
- Old-timey exclamationsgolly, gee whiz, jeepers, gadzooks, fiddlesticks
- minced oathsdarn, heck, gosh, shoot, dang
- Posh Britishold boy, old chap, old bean, old sport, pip pip
- Southern dialecty'all, fixin to, bless your heart, reckon, howdy
- Victorian Exclamationsby Jove, bless my soul, heavens above, my word, upon my word
good graciousgoddamn
Profane intensifier expressing frustration
holy shit · what the fuck · fucking hell · damn it · son of a bitch
good graciousholy shit
Profane expression of shock
what the fuck · motherfucker · bullshit · screw this · piss off
good, gracious, goods, goodness, goodly, grace, graces, graced, gracing