Great Scott

Posted by ESC on July 29, 2005

In Reply to: Great Scott posted by Smokey Stover on July 29, 2005

: : Where did the saying "Great Scott" come from?

: I wouldn't call it a saying. The OED defines it thus: "[Great] In exclamations, as Great Cæsar, Scott, Sun!, meaningless euphemisms for Great God! [Citation:] 1885 'F. ANSTEY' Tinted Venus 60 Great Scott! I must be bad!" SS

Minced oath. (Only linguistic term I know and it has served me well.)

• Great Scott James Briggs 29/July/05
  • Great Scott Smokey Stover 29/July/05