saints alive
Expression of astonishment
Saints alive is a mild exclamation of surprise or astonishment, invoking saints as a euphemism for stronger oaths.
It sounds old-fashioned and folksy: Saints alive, I haven't seen you in years!
The expression appears in regional American speech and period fiction, rarely in contemporary use except for deliberate effect.
- goodness graciousGentle interjection of surprise
- good heavensQuaint surprise utterance
- heavens aboveExclamation expressing surprise
- mercy meGenteel surprise exclamation
- holy molyMild surprise exclamation
bless my soul · well I never · good grief · for crying out loud · oh my stars · my goodness · dear me · land sakes · upon my word · I declare · exclamation · surprise · astonishment · old-fashioned · halo · blessed · divine · miraculous
saints alivegoddamn
Profane intensifier expressing frustration
damn it · holy shit · what the fuck · fucking hell · son of a bitch
saint, saints, saintly, sainthood, saintliness, alive, live, lives, living