Ye gods!
This expression may have its origin in classical times, at a period in history when many gods were worshipped. In the 17th century it was a variation of the more usual and blasphemous, ‘Oh, my God.’
At some point, ‘and little fishes’ was added, and was first seen in print in 1830. It may have been a gentle reference to the story of the feeding of the five thousand, recorded in all four gospels. The words were added to soften the phrase and turn it into a ‘minced oath.’ A minced oath is one which has been adapted or cut up to be less offensive.
Minced oaths have been used since the 14th century, from Wikipedia:‘when "gog" and "kokk", both euphemisms for God, were in use. Other early minced oaths include "Gis" or "Jis" for Jesus (1528)’
Minced oaths may involve substituting similar words, or adjusting a phrase. Thus, gosh substitutes for God, heck for hell, and darn for damn. Gee derives from Jesus, Blimey from God blind me and Crikey from Christ. Even Jiminy Cricket is less innocent than it sounds – look at the initial letters.
Jiminy Cricket. I'd never noticed. I a Jeremy with his last name beginning with C. I don't believe he is religious, and I used to see him with his mother, and I don't think she is religious either.
ReplyDeleteAnd all my life I have been unaware of these meanings.
ReplyDeleteOMG! This is so amazing! It's so much fun to learn this!
ReplyDeleteJeepers Creepers! And hell's bells, you said a mouthful!
ReplyDelete