Hells bells and little fishes

Posted by James Briggs on December 06, 2005

In Reply to: Hells bells and little fishes posted by ESC on December 06, 2005

: : "Hells bells and little fishes." (Mother was born and raised in London and remember using the phrase; she doesn't know if it has a valid origin or whether she came up with it herself. - she is 96 now) Any help greatly apreciated.
: : My thanks ....

: I'm from the U.S. and have never heard of it. But I'll be using it from now on. I am wondering if "little fishes" refers to the loaves and fishes that Jesus used to feed the multitudes.

It's certainly a phrase that I was brought up with. It's still current, but not common. I have no idea of the origin.
There's another similar 'hells bells and little bodkins'. Again, no idea where this came from.
A Google search shows many variants.

• Hells bells and little fishes Lewis 06/December/05
  • Hells bells and little fishes Smokey Stover 06/December/05
    • Hells bells and little fishes Victoria S Dennis 06/December/05
      • Hells bells and little fishes Smokey Stover 07/December/05
        • Hells bells and little fishes Bob 10/December/05