Golly Gee Whillikers

Posted by R. Berg on April 21, 2001

In Reply to: Golly Gee Willikers posted by christine on April 21, 2001

: I use this expression frequently to express suprise or even use it as a mild reproach. I have also seen this question posted on another site with no responses..yet.. I am curious as to its origin. I know that Gee Wizz is a Minced oath for 'Jesus' and am wondering if this is just a variation of Gee Wizz. Thanks

The spellings begin "wh-." Webster's unabridged, 1934, has "gee whizz" with "gee whilikins" given as a variant, although nobody I know of says "whilikins." It doesn't give an origin. "Gee" by itself is a minced oath for "Jesus," so the "whiz(z)" and "whilli-whatever" still need an explanation.

• Golly Gee Whillikers ESC 04/23/01