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ETYMOLOGY an elaboration of Ye gods! - a 17th century variant of 'oh my God' (probably intended to avoid blasphemy) FIRST DOCUMENTED USE 1830 - The National Magazine and Dublin Literary Gazette The Antiquity of Joint Stock Companies Vindicated "But of all combinations of those 'by-gone ages,' ye gods and little fishes! what a glorious pick-pocket company might be established between ..." (special thanks to S.O.) EXAMPLE From: Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo's Boys By Louisa M. Alcott, 1888 The Boys
9 Comments
Simon Oliver
20/12/2018 03:36:47 am
I've found a usage in 1830 from the Dublin Gazette.
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Words and Phrases from the Past
20/12/2018 01:17:29 pm
Ah, thank you very much for that!
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Susan BUSH
20/9/2020 06:23:50 pm
My father always said that. After years of his passing I just asked myself where did he get that expression from? Thanks so much. He was a real character!
Donna Masury
13/1/2022 07:11:11 pm
My uncle always said that. His father was an preacher. He always said E Gadds and lil fishes.... I was only about Five yrs old in a few weeks I will turn 80
Andrew Fitzherbert
3/4/2020 03:06:10 pm
I've been an obsessive reader since childhood, and assumed this phrase was employed by "literary People", it takes the old blasphemous"Ye Gods" and modifies it by the childish "and little fishes" You find it among well-read folk. It was always
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DianaMcDraw
22/4/2020 01:57:48 pm
Pish Tosh
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Sharon S DeBevoise
15/3/2023 02:30:19 pm
when my brother and I would fight, my mother would stomp her foot and say this phrase. I never heard it from anyone else and I am 76.
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Brianna Kauanoe
6/4/2024 08:30:09 pm
My Grandmother (Scot-Irish and English) would say “By gosh and little fishies/fishhooks.” I can only think this is a spinoff??
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6/4/2024 09:01:15 pm
It definitely seems that way.
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