goodness gracious
Surprised but wholesome
Goodness gracious is a mild exclamation of surprise, alarm, or dismay: Goodness gracious, I completely forgot about the meeting.
The phrase substitutes for stronger oaths—goodness standing in for God, gracious softening the expression further.
It sounds somewhat old-fashioned or fussy, often used by those who avoid profanity or for gentle comic effect.
- land sakesFolksy surprise interjection
- oh myExclamation of surprise
- wowCry of amazement
- holy cowExpression of amazement
- mercy meGenteel surprise exclamation
sakes alive · jeepers · blimey · for crying out loud · gosh · lordy · crikey · bless my soul · heavens above · holy moly · fiddlesticks · golly · my word · well I never · egad · oh dear · oh my stars · mild oath
goodness graciousgoddamn
Profane intensifier expressing frustration
holy shit · what the fuck · fucking hell · Jesus Christ · son of a bitch
good, goods, goodness, graceful, gracious, disgrace, disgraceful, gracefully, disgraced